CDFA Plant Health

Detector Dog Cosmo

and

Dog Handler Lisa Centoni

The Community Development Agency’s Agriculture Canine Inspection Team continues to intercept unmarked parcels containing agricultural commodities infested with harmful exotic pests that can damage our state’s agricultural and natural environments. These parcels enter California through a variety of shipping terminals, several of which are located here in Alameda County.

Agricultural Biologist and Canine Handler Lisa Centoni, and her canine partner ‘Cosmo’, a black lab mix, intercepted a 13 lb. box of Florida origin Annona squamosa fruit (commonly known as ‘sugar apples’) at one of the terminals.

Cosmo ‘alerted’ and led Lisa right to the package on a top shelf in a loaded delivery truck, letting Lisa know that it contained an agricultural commodity. Cosmo ‘alerts‘ by scratching on a package if he has direct access to it, or as in this case when the package is out of reach, by trying to reach the package by stretching towards it.

Senior Agricultural Biologist Ken Peek brought the box of sugar apples back to the Agriculture office for inspection since this fruit is prohibited into California from the State of Florida unless it is certified as meeting several quarantine regulations. Several insects were found infesting the fruit and were sent to the California Department of Agriculture’s (CDFA) Plant Pest and Disease Diagnostic Lab in Sacramento for identification. Two ‘A’ rated pests were identified, both species of mealybugs; ‘A’ rated pests are economically damaging pests not found in California and are prohibited; consequently the package was rejected and destroyed.

Source: Alameda County Weights and Measures

Photo: Detector Dog Cosmo and Handler Lisa Centoni

Download Alameda County Article (PDF)