A new class of puppies will eventually help police and FBI agents sniff out bombs and drugs. And they're being trained right here in Philadelphia.
On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, researchers dedicated the first class of puppies at the PennVet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia to the day of the tragedy.
The seven include Labradors, a golden retriever, and a Dutch shepherd, all named after search and rescue dogs used at Ground Zero.
The K-9s are used in the military and law enforcement for therapy, during patrols, and to detect bombs or sniff out improvised explosive devices.
PennVet's new center is on the cutting edge. It focuses on researching and training the dogs at about eight weeks, before fears or bad habits develop.
The American Kennel Club is helping the cause, funding a research DNA bank for detection dogs.
The center has had no shortage of people wanting to get involved. Over 300 people have volunteered, and only seven of the 70 households wanting to be foster families get the honor.
Their main job? Just to love on them.
The families keep the pups nights and weekends. The goodbye a year from now will be bittersweet.
Researchers at the new PennVet Working Dog Center say there is a shortage of detection dogs in the United States and we rely on Europe for resources. Another mission of the center is to overcome that.
Because it is privately funded, donations are welcomed on their website, www.pennvetwdc.org.
FOX's Anna Koiman has more of the cute K-9s in training to serve in the above video report.
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