New law helps beagles stop foreign animal disease from entering country

A new law will help protect U.S. livestock from foreign animal diseases, by reinforcing a program that trains beagles and other dogs to sniff out prohibited agricultural items before they enter the country.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, co-sponsored the Beagle Brigade Act, which was introduced in 2023. Ernst said in a statement Tuesday she was “paws-itively thrilled” it had become a law.
“Preventing the spread of foreign animal disease and protecting our food supply is only possible when everyone, including our four-legged friends, come together,” Ernst said in the statement. “Now, it’s all paws on deck!”
The law gave statutory authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Detector Dog Training Center and requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, report to Congress about agricultural threats from foreign pests and diseases.
The dogs are deployed at airports, borders, warehouses, seaports, mail facilities and elsewhere. According to APHIS, beagles are used to sniff out fruits, vegetables, and meats. Jack Russell terriers are trained to find brown tree snakes and Labrador retrievers detect an invasive rodent called nutria.
The center is located in Newnan, Georgia, and trains rescued dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups. According to USDA, dogs have hundreds of millions of scent receptors in their noses and are able to single out overlapping scents, making them adept at identifying potentially prohibited agricultural items.
Matt Gent, Iowa Pork Producers Association president, said the canines are the “first line of defense” to prevent diseases and pests from entering the country and infecting livestock.
“Iowa pig farmers appreciate Sen. Ernst’s hard work on passing the Beagle Brigade Act,” Gent said in a statement. “We must continue to protect the nation’s pork supply so we can provide consumers with a nutritious, affordable, and quality protein to enjoy for years to come.”
The act was sponsored by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, and was signed into law Dec. 23, 2024 by former President Joe Biden.
