Two beagle puppies who will one day help keep New Zealand's borders safe are looking for names.
The MPI's new recruits. Photo: Supplied
The puppies are part of the six-strong "F-litter" born to biosecurity detector dogs Aria and Watchman and any names will be considered - as long as they start with "F".
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) detection techology manager Brett Hickman said the puppies would soon go to foster homes to help prepare them for their training ahead. They would return to the ministry to start formal training next May, all going to plan.
The ministry had been breeding beagles as biosecurity detector dogs for 20 years and during that time had produced more than 30 litters.
"Our MPI-bred beagles have proven themselves as excellent biosecurity detector dogs," Mr Hickman said.
"They are ideally suited to working at airports and ports to sniff out food, plants other items that could pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand."
MPI is looking for a female and a male name for the new puppies, and people can find further details on the MPI detector dog Facebook page.
Put your name suggestions in the comments section below.
