A letter to Biosecurity..
Dear Sir / Madam,
I would like to make a query regarding an encounter I had with a detector dog at the Auckland Airport and the conduct of its handler. On the 5th of April (Monday), I was at baggage carousel 1 at approximately 4.45pm waiting for my check-in luggage. I was approached by a detector dog and its female dog handler. This did not surprise me as I had just disposed of a banana which was in my bag. I was happy for the officer to search through my bag and understood that it was normal procedure.
What I was not very keen on was the fact that the detector dog literally had its head inside of my bags (backpack and hand carry). This to me, did not feel like normal procedure to have a detector dog stick its head so deep in my bags. I made it known to the Officer that I was not comfortable with that and requested for her to restrain the detector dog from sticking its head into my bag. I was still happy for the dog handler to continue searching my bags just not for the dog to be in my bag. I was simply advised by the Officer that the dog "had to do its job" and the dog was not restrained by the Officer and allowed to continue as it was.
Another thing which I was displeased about was that the female Officer removed a plastic bag containing a box of doughnuts from my bag and placed it directly on the floor. I was standing right in front of her and I think that the officer could have at least handed the box to me to hold instead OR to move to a bench where she could place my items on as opposed as the floor of the airport. I work in the food safety field, and among the things that we constantly drill into people is to not put food directly on the floor. As I was rather frustrated at the officer's lack of concern, I asked the Officer to not put food on the floor but was instead told, I quote, "not to give attitude".
I apologise if I may have come off a bit rude, but as you can understand, I was rather frustrated at the officer's lack of concern and dismissal of my request. I understand that the detector dog's role is to sniff out possible items which pose a Biosecurity risk and that the dog was doing its job. As I work in a similar field, I understand the need for the officer and the dog to do their jobs. I was happy for the officer to search my bag, however, I was not happy for the dog to stick its head into my bags. I would like to point out that the dog's head was literally in my bag and the officer did not seem to have a good handle of the dog as the dog was rather excitable. After the search, I noticed that there was dog saliva over some of the contents of my bag, including the plastic bag containing my box of doughnuts. One could argue that there is nothing harmful with dog saliva. Yes, but this can be very offensive to some, in particular Muslims. I personally am not a fan of dog saliva coating my items, more so, food items.
My main query would be whether or not it is protocol or a requirement that the detector dogs be permitted to stick their heads into bags. If I am uncomfortable with such a practice, do I have the right to request for a bag search by the handler instead of having the dog continue to stick its head in my bag?
I look forward to your response.
Kind regards,
Christine H.
No offence to dog lovers out there.. I still think dogs are better pets than cats.. hehee.. but I guess I don't love their saliva as much as I thought I would. :P Or at least, I don't think I'd let my dog lick my food.. >.<
p.s: The dog reeked of dog biscuits / just stank.
I would like to make a query regarding an encounter I had with a detector dog at the Auckland Airport and the conduct of its handler. On the 5th of April (Monday), I was at baggage carousel 1 at approximately 4.45pm waiting for my check-in luggage. I was approached by a detector dog and its female dog handler. This did not surprise me as I had just disposed of a banana which was in my bag. I was happy for the officer to search through my bag and understood that it was normal procedure.
What I was not very keen on was the fact that the detector dog literally had its head inside of my bags (backpack and hand carry). This to me, did not feel like normal procedure to have a detector dog stick its head so deep in my bags. I made it known to the Officer that I was not comfortable with that and requested for her to restrain the detector dog from sticking its head into my bag. I was still happy for the dog handler to continue searching my bags just not for the dog to be in my bag. I was simply advised by the Officer that the dog "had to do its job" and the dog was not restrained by the Officer and allowed to continue as it was.
Another thing which I was displeased about was that the female Officer removed a plastic bag containing a box of doughnuts from my bag and placed it directly on the floor. I was standing right in front of her and I think that the officer could have at least handed the box to me to hold instead OR to move to a bench where she could place my items on as opposed as the floor of the airport. I work in the food safety field, and among the things that we constantly drill into people is to not put food directly on the floor. As I was rather frustrated at the officer's lack of concern, I asked the Officer to not put food on the floor but was instead told, I quote, "not to give attitude".
I apologise if I may have come off a bit rude, but as you can understand, I was rather frustrated at the officer's lack of concern and dismissal of my request. I understand that the detector dog's role is to sniff out possible items which pose a Biosecurity risk and that the dog was doing its job. As I work in a similar field, I understand the need for the officer and the dog to do their jobs. I was happy for the officer to search my bag, however, I was not happy for the dog to stick its head into my bags. I would like to point out that the dog's head was literally in my bag and the officer did not seem to have a good handle of the dog as the dog was rather excitable. After the search, I noticed that there was dog saliva over some of the contents of my bag, including the plastic bag containing my box of doughnuts. One could argue that there is nothing harmful with dog saliva. Yes, but this can be very offensive to some, in particular Muslims. I personally am not a fan of dog saliva coating my items, more so, food items.
My main query would be whether or not it is protocol or a requirement that the detector dogs be permitted to stick their heads into bags. If I am uncomfortable with such a practice, do I have the right to request for a bag search by the handler instead of having the dog continue to stick its head in my bag?
I look forward to your response.
Kind regards,
Christine H.
~~@~~
No offence to dog lovers out there.. I still think dogs are better pets than cats.. hehee.. but I guess I don't love their saliva as much as I thought I would. :P Or at least, I don't think I'd let my dog lick my food.. >.<
p.s: The dog reeked of dog biscuits / just stank.
Comments
and yes, i don't fancy dog saliva on my food either, not even if it's from my bella or junior coz that's just plain disgusting - don't even remind me where their tongue was last at...
and to put your doughnuts on the floor - that's wrong!!!
(i learnt all this from border security on tv hahah)