Customs officials in Calgary say a Beagle “with a fine nose” foiled a traveller’s attempt to bring 20 dead baby birds and other prohibited items into the country.
The traveller from Lebanon did not declare any food, plant or animal products when he arrived at the Calgary International Airport last Wednesday.
But detector dog Rusty sniffed out a bizarre assortment of items in the traveller’s suitcase: 20 dead baby birds, 100 chestnuts, six bags of homemade cracked wheat yogurt, two jars of homemade dairy cream, 100 seeds and 15 stone fruit (which, by definition, include peaches, plums and cherries).
“These products have a very high probability of carrying harmful diseases that could potentially cause significant harm to Canada’s agricultural industry,” Canada Border Services Agency said in a news release.
The CBSA said Rusty is an eight-year-old Beagle mix “with a fine nose for detecting contraband.” The detector dog works alongside CBSA officers in Calgary every day.
No details were released about the traveller or any potential fines he may be facing
