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Detector Dog Bear
and Dog Handler Vanessa Ochoa

All About Bear

HANDLER: Vanessa Ochoa

COUNTY: Orange

BREED: Chocolate Labrador

WEIGHT: 57 lbs

DATE OF BIRTH: 06/05/2022

FAVORITE TOY: Big blue Wubba Kong

FAVORITE TREAT: Bear is not picky, the more the merrier.

FAVORITE PLACE: Anywhere where Bear can run free is a place for him.

Bear is a lovable male chocolate Labrador. He was procured by the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, GA, from Pacific Coast K9 in Custer, WA. Bear was just a year and a half old when he was partnered with his handler, Vanessa Ochoa. Since then, they have been an effective team. After training for two months and graduating from the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center in May 2024, they were deployed to Orange County.

Bear and Vanessa are the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures Office’s first detector dog team, and together they will help augment the needed pest exclusion capacity to protect the local agricultural industry and the natural environment from injurious pest and diseases. Bear will be working at multiple FedEx and UPS facilities, looking for unmarked agricultural parcels that can carry harmful pests and diseases that threaten California’s robust agricultural industries and unique ecosystems. Eventually, the team will commence inspection activities at the two USPS distribution facilities located within the county.

Bear loves to work just as much as he loves to play. He enjoys going on long walks and running wild and free when his handler says it is safe to do so. Most importantly, he loves tearing apart his big blue Wubba Kongs; if he could, he would play fetch all day. If you see Bear around, make sure to give him some nice pets—he is a good boy.

Bear In the News

"Orange County hires dog employee to help sniff shipments"

ORANGE, Calif. — Orange County's Agricultural Commissioner office has added a four-legged employee to its team. "Bear" will be part of the county's first canine team to help sniff or inspect incoming plant, produce and cut flower shipments.

According to officials, Bear, the 2-year-old chocolate labrador, has the ability to inspect 9,000 packages per day versus 40,000 per year by his human counterparts or inspectors.

The program helps inspect and intercept harmful plant pests coming from areas outside of the county. If undetected, some plant pests could be detrimental to the county's agricultural industry and economy.

For example, the oriental fruit fly caused a 100-square-mile quarantine in Orange County in 2022. The quarantine has recently been lifted. Agriculture continues to be a leading industry in Orange County, which, on average, has a production value of approximately $80 million.

Orange County is one of eleven counties in the state to receive a detector dog. (JoKwon, spectrumnews1 - Published 5:15 AM PT Sept. 23, 2024)

Bear's Photo Gallery