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Miami International Airport is using COVID-19 sniffing dogs as part of a pilot program

By Kimberley Spinney

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: Kelley Hall leads One Betta, a Dutch Shepard, as he sniffs a mask for the scent of COVID-19 at Miami International Airport on September 08, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Miami International Airport COVID-19 detection canines will be used to screen employees at their entry checkpoints in a 30 day pilot study. The dogs trained at Florida International University’s International Forensic Research Institute, have a detector accuracy rate from 96 to 99 percent in published peer-reviewed, double-blind trials. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: Kelley Hall leads One Betta, a Dutch Shepard, as he sniffs a mask for the scent of COVID-19 at Miami International Airport on September 08, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Miami International Airport COVID-19 detection canines will be used to screen employees at their entry checkpoints in a 30 day pilot study. The dogs trained at Florida International University’s International Forensic Research Institute, have a detector accuracy rate from 96 to 99 percent in published peer-reviewed, double-blind trials. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) /
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A Dutch Shepherd and a Belgian Malinois are heading to the Miami International Airport as part of a COVID-19 sniffing pilot program. As part of a 30 day program, these two canines will be doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19, while still allowing people to get to their next destination.

According to Travel & Leisure, Miami becomes the first city in the United States to have COVID-19 sniffing dogs in their airport, although this is not the first time dogs have been used for this purpose in other parts of the world. In fact, in August 2020 Dubai International Airport had dogs sniffing out the virus, while Helsinki Airport brought them in a month later in September 2020.

For the Miami based pilot program, the two dogs, Cobra and One Betta, will be stationed at a security checkpoint for employees. It seems that people passing through security will have to remove their masks to allow the dog to sniff them. If there is a concern, the person in question will have to take a rapid COVID-19 test.

Miami International Airport is bringing in two COVID-19 dogs as part of a pilot program

Miami
MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: One Betta, a Dutch Shepard, sniffs a mask for the scent of COVID-19 at Miami International Airport on September 08, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Miami International Airport COVID-19 detection canines will be used to screen employees at their entry checkpoints in a 30 day pilot study. The dogs trained at Florida International University’s International Forensic Research Institute, have a detector accuracy rate from 96 to 99 percent in published peer-reviewed, double-blind trials. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) /

According to the Miami airport, “The dogs received hundreds of training sessions and achieved accuracy rates from 96% to 99%.” And of course, both dogs have received extensive training thanks to the Global Forensic and Justice Center at Florida International University.

Since the start of the pandemic, dogs have actually been considered a major tool in the fight against the virus in multiple ways. Not only have they been companions to so many of us, but they have been trained to detect it with impressive levels of accuracy.

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, it makes sense to use whatever tools we have at our disposal. And if these dogs are successful in their duties, it will be interesting to see whether or not more airports bring in these canine sniffers. Of course, we are also interested in finding out whether or not the pilot program gets extended beyond the 30 days and if Cobra the Belgian Malinois and One Betta the Dutch Shepherd get to remain in their posts at the airport.

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What do you think fellow dog lovers? Are you in favor of this program? Do you think more airports should have COVID-19 sniffing dogs? Let us know.

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