TSA's Puppy Program
TSA's National Explosives Detection Canine Team
What We Do
TSA's Puppy Program selectively breeds, raises and prepares puppies to be future explosives detection dogs within the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. Dogs that graduate from training are assigned to airports and mass transit systems nationwide. The program is located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Program History and Goals
TSA's Puppy Program was modeled after the Australian Customs Service National Breeding and Development Centre (NBDC). NBDC was developed in 1992 and provides working dogs to the Australian Customs Service as well as the Federal Protective Services, New South Wales Police Department and multiple other law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The NBDC has produced over 500 dogs and has achieved a successful training rate of over 50 percent of all dogs bred. They have assisted in the development of three breeding programs in the United States as well as assisting other nations.
TSA's program was initially started in 1999 with six adult females and two adult males that were provided by the NBDC to establish a breeding colony. Later, the NBDC also contributed a total of 17 puppies to the program. Before Sept. 11, 2001, there was no great urgency to produce explosives detection canines; however, that changed as the day unfolded. The first breeding occurred in January 2002, and the program has since produced over 410 puppies. The breeding stock now consists of 11 females and 30 males.
Program officials are studying options for producing 200 puppies per year to help supplement the needs of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program as well as other federal and state agencies in need of working dogs. The program continually looks forward to working with breeders throughout the United States to promote new partnerships.
Puppy Foster and Walker Programs
The program depends on volunteer families in San Antonio and Austin, Texas to raise puppies from age nine weeks to 12 months, when they can enter explosives detection training. During this time, families are responsible for providing their pups with a well-rounded, socialized and nurturing environment. To help the families, there is an orientation and a puppy raising guidebook, and the staff is available anytime for questions or emergencies.
The program also supplies food, equipment and medical care for the puppies while in foster care. The puppies are returned to the program for one week each month for medical and behavioral evaluation. The program provides feedback to the foster families on how the puppy is developing. At approximately one year of age, the pups are returned to the program to start their official training.
Potential puppy foster families must have a secure fenced yard, a vehicle in which the pup can be transported, and no more than two other dogs in the home.
TSA also has a need for puppy walkers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer walker, please complete the linked application below. You can fax or mail your application to the number or address listed under contact information. Once the program receives your application it will be reviewed and a staff member will contact you with further details.
Interested in becoming a Puppy walker?
Click here to download a puppy walker foster home application (pdf, 121 KB)
Adoption Program Overview
The TSA Puppy Program selectively breeds, raises and prepares puppies to be future explosives detection dogs. TSA-bred puppies are put through a rigorous selection process. For various reasons not all pups produced by the program will meet the standards of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. Dogs that are not selected have some training and handling experience. These dogs make great pets and are placed without charge in good homes.
All dogs are spayed or neutered and receive a complete physical prior to placement in a home.
Cost
Dogs available for adoption are located in San Antonio, Texas. There is no adoption charge, but adopters are required to pay the cost of transporting the dog to its new home. The program can assist with transportation arrangements.
Breed
Most of the dogs available are Labrador Retrievers under one year of age.
How to Adopt
Interested in adopting one of these great dogs?
Click here to download an adoption application (pdf, 143 KB).
You can fax or mail your application to the number or address listed under contact information. Once your application is received, a staff member will contact you.
Contact Information
341 TRS/TSA Puppy Program
1320 Truemper Street
Bldg 9122 Suite 2 Room 2701
Lackland AFB, TX 78236
Phone (210) 671-1624
Fax (210) 671-1705
Staff
Program Manager: Scott Thomas
Program Specialist: Diana Thomas
Kennel Supervisor: David Kennedy
Kennel Technician: Katie Erwin
Kennel Technician: Dan Penden
Kennel Technician: Jesse Ayar
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