Detector Dog Service (DDS) - Evaluation Study

Chart 1. Handlers' Opinions on Select Work-Related Issues by Speciality.

• My dog and I are often called upon for detection work.
  • Food, Plant and Animal (FPA): 55.6%
  • Drugs, Firearms (D/F)and Currency: 85.7%
• My immediate supervisor does a gods job of helping me develop my career.
  • FPA: 16.7%
  • D/F and Currency: 48.7%
• I have opportunities to develop the skills I need to enhance my career.
  • FPA: 8.3%
  • D/F and Currency: 40.5%
• My immediate supervisor keeps me informed about the issues affecting my work.
  • FPA: 38.5%
  • F/D and Currency: 74.4%
• My immediate supervisor and I discuss the results I am expected to achieve.
  • FPA: 27.3%
  • F/D and Currency: 63.6%
• I consult the DD team training materials and guides regularly to improve the quality of my work.
  • FPA: 12.5%
  • F/D and Currency: 51.2%
• I have sufficient opportunity to network with other dog handlers in the CBSA.
  • FPA: 9.1%
  • F/D and Currency: 48.8%
• The training materials and guides for DD teams are current and user friendly.
  • FPA: 30.0%
  • F/D and Currency: 69.8%
• Information, expertise and best practices are shared sufficiently and efficiently between DDS teams.
  • FPA: 15.4%
  • F/D and Currency: 56.8%
• I have good communication and receive sufficient support from DDLS to do my job.
  • FPA: 41.7%
  • F/D and Currency: 93.0%

Source: Detector dog handler survey, June 2006

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Chart 2. Ratio of Detector Dog Teams by Population (in Millions), 2005.

• Sweden: 5.89 detector dog teams per million of population.
• France: 3.29
• New Zealand: 3.00
• Australia: 2.69
• United States: 2.00
• Canada: 1.89
• United Kingdom: 1.03

Source: Population estimate (2005) from the U.S. Census Bureau (Integrated Data Base Summary Demographic Data) and number of detector dog teams of selected countries.

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Chart 3. Number and Value of Drug/Firearm Seizures by Each Detector Dog Team 1999-2000 to 2005-2006.

• 1999-2000
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 18.4
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $7.828 million
• 2000-2001
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 17.0
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $6.375 million
• 2001-2002
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 16.9
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $3.987 million
• 2002-2003
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 11.0
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $855,228
• 2003-2004
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 11.0
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $2.994 million
• 2004-2005
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 10.2
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $1.744 million
• 2005-2006
  • Number of seizures by DD team: 4.4
  • Value of seizures by DD team: $1.781 million

Source: DDS Databases, Enforcement Branch

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Chart 4. Currency Seizures (Value) of Detector Dog Teams by Location, 2005-2006.

• Toronto PIA Terminal, GTA: 39%
• Pac Highway, Pacific: 28%
• Niagara/Fort Erie: 15%
• Windsor, S.W. Ontario: 9%
• Lacolle, Quebec: 8%
• Eastern Townships, Quebec: 1%

Source: DDS Databases, Enforcement Branch
Note: The chart takes into account all currency seizures, including seizures made by D/F teams.

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Chart 5. Proportion of Currency Seizures by Currency and Drugs/Firearm Detector Dog Teams, 2003-2004 to 2005-2006.

• 2003-2004
  • Drugs/Firearms DD Teams: $1,230,501
  • Currency DD Teams: $6,430,003
  • Total: $7.661 million
• 2004-2005
  • Drugs/Firearms DD Teams: $3,892,148
  • Currency DD Teams: $1,867,675
  • Total: $5.760 million
• 2005-2006
  • Drugs/Firearms DD Teams: $432,455
  • Currency DD Teams: $512,520
  • Total: $.945 million

Source: DDS Databases, Enforcement Branch

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Chart 6. Cost to Deliver CBSA DDS Program, 2005-2006.

Average Cost for 69 Teams: $85,980
Total Cost of the Program: $5,932,600

• Handler Salary: 63% (Average Salary of Handlers $53,567)
• Handler Overtime: 6% (Average Overtime of Handlers $4,942)
• Detector Dog, Vehicle and other O&M: 9%
• Rigaud DDLS Salary & Overtime: 7%
• Rigaud DDLS O&M: 8%
• HQ Enforcement Salary: 3%
• DDS Initial Cost (HQ Enforcement): 4%

Source: DDS RMAF 2006

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Chart 7. Average Initial Cost of Detector Dog Teams, 2004-2005.

Initial Cost: $57,521

• Vehicle Purchase and Related Equipment: 69%
• Dog Purchase and Related Equipment: 6%
• Veterinary Cost: 2%
• Travel for Training: 2%
• Incidentals for Future Handler: 2%
• Lodging Facility: 4%
• Training Salary: 6%
• Other Training Cost: 5%
• Home Kennel Purchase (except FPA): 4%

Source: DDS RMAF 2006 and DDLS information

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