Laredo Sector Border Patrol Canine Unit welcomes four new members to the program

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol Canine Unit held a graduation on Friday to welcome four new Border Patrol agents to the program.

“We all remember the events of Sept. 11, Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of this tragic day,” Anthony S. Good, division chief of the Laredo Sector Canine Program, said. “Several agencies came together as one agency when Customs and Border Protection was formed in 2003. Our canine program has become one of the premier law enforcement canine programs in the nation, with over 775 Border Patrol canine handlers nationwide. We lead the way in traditions and will continue with our legacy that the canine program stands for.”

The canine handler program lasted seven weeks and consisted of a training course that included a pass or fail exam at the end of the class. The Laredo Sector currently has a total of 85 canine teams. Duties of the canine teams include tracking and trailing, open-field searches, freight train checks, and traffic checks.

The Laredo Sector Canine Program is one of the largest canine patrol programs in the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.