Detector Dog Soya
and Dog Handler Samantha Tomlinson
All About Soya
BREED: Labrador Retriever Mix
BIRTHDATE: Approx. November 2012
WEIGHT: 56 lbs
HANDLER: Samantha Tomlinson
FAVORITE TOYS: Squeaky squirrels, rabbits, and skunks!
Soya is a rescue dog from Etowah Valley Humane Society in Cartersville, GA. She was acquired in March of 2015 at the estimated age of two years old by trainers at the USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia. In July of 2015, Soya partnered with County of Fresno K9 Handler Samantha Tomlinson. Together, they do their part protecting California’s agricultural industry by conducting inspections to find exotic pests at terminal/ parcel facilities.
Soya enjoys working, especially teaching school children about agriculture and why her job is important. Soya is a very smart, friendly, and easy-going girl who knows her job and does it very well! When Soya is not working, she enjoys going for walks, and keeping a lookout for pesky squirrels.
Meet the Dog Who's Saving the World's Fruits and Vegetables
By Brandon Johansen
"This dog's job is to sniff out anything that could damage the world's fruits and vegetables!" (2:35)
Dogs Keep California Agriculture Safe
Meet Soya, an agriculture detector K-9, and her handler, Samantha Tomlinson, who works for the Fresno County Ag Commissioner's office. Tomlinson and Soya work as the first line of defense to protect California's agriculture industry from potential pests and diseases that can be shipped in packages. Charmayne Hefley reports. Story by Charmayne Hefley and Patrick Cavanaugh. (2:55)
Agriculture Detector K9
Agriculture is the economic engine that drives the Central Valley. In this episode of Valley’s Gold, host Ryan Jacobsen learns about Agriculture Detector K9 Inspectors, including Fresno County's Dog Team, Soya and her handler Samantha Tomlinson.
Segment begins at minute 6:50 into the episode: https://valleypbs.org/valleysgold/crop-specialists/
CA Dog Teams
Dector Dog News Videos
Dozer The Detector Dog Helps Keep Mail Pests Away From Yolo County Agriculture
Unwanted pests hitching a ride in the mail are a threat to California's billion-dollar agriculture, but they're no match for Dozer the Detector Dog. (CBS 13) (1:41)
Meet Dozer, Agriculture-Detector Dog
The latest weapon against pests threatening California's $2 billion agriculture business is Dozer, a canine trained to sniff out fruit insects (03:32)
Good Day Sacramento: Dozer - Food & Agriculture Detector Dog
Cody Stark meets "Dozer," a dog trained to protect California agriculture from plant pests and diseases by detecting undeclared plant material and insects in packages. (03:26)
Every Day is Friday for this Detector Dog
Friday was forced into retirement at the age of nine, but she's not ready to give up sniffing boxes. She now lives with her handler, Jeremy Partch, where she's learning how to be...a pet. (2:52)
Detector Dogs Stop Plant Pests
Canine inspectors at shipping facilities and airport terminals from Sacramento to San Diego detect undeclared produce and plants in packages, to prevent the introduction of invasive plant pests into California. (02:46)