Detector Dog Owen
and Dog Handler Melissa Sinkovits
All About Owen
BREED: Black Lab Mix
BIRTHDATE: August 11, 2019
WEIGHT: 68 lbs.
HANDLER: Melissa Sinkovits
FAVORITE TOY(S): Squeaky monkey
FAVORITE TREAT: Freeze-dried duck
Owen graduated from the National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia in May 2022. Using his keen sense of smell, Owen detects unmarked packages containing agricultural products entering San Diego County through various shipping facilities. Owen is an enthusiastic and dedicated worker who is always eager to please. When he’s not working hard to protect California’s agriculture, Owen enjoys swimming, hiking, and napping with his favorite toys.
Owen is a sweet and affectionate dog, and he loves being the center of attention.
Taking a well earned work break
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)