This heart warming Shelter Story came from Diane Gaglinao, program coordinator at Seminole County Animal Services, near Orlando, via the “Orlando Sentinel.” Who could resist such a Cinderella ending?

The little beagle didn’t even have a name when he was picked up as a stray and brought into Seminole County Animal Services. He sat here for two weeks, cast aside and abandoned, hoping someone would see the potential he had to be a great dog. The shelter staff named him Perkins and hoped for the best for him.

Perkins and partner

Then along came the USDA National Detector Dog Training scout. She was looking for a dog to join their famous Beagle Brigade. The Beagle Brigade is a group of dogs that work at airports all over the world sniffing out fruits, meats, vegetables and plants that are not allowed to be imported into certain countries.

Could it be this is what Perkins was destined to do? Perkins was accepted into the program and began his education at the Detector Dog Training School, where he graduated at the top of his class on July 24, 2008. Perkins and his handler are now headed to an airport in Guam where his nose will sniff out things that aren’t supposed to be there.

Perkins and his handler had such a wonderful bond. It made us proud that Seminole County Animal Services could play a small roll in getting Perkins into this wonderful organization. Perkins will work until he is about 9 years old and upon his retirement, he most likely will be adopted by his handler.