Finnish customs announced that it would not employ specially trained snuff dogs at border crossings after the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health stated that there was insufficient evidence of the dogs’ ability to detect the virus, Helsingin Sanomat says.
The dogs had plans to smell potential Covid-infected passengers passing through the border crossings. However, according to ministry officials, there was insufficient evidence that the dogs could detect the coronavirus, despite previous studies suggesting that the dogs were able to quickly detect the virus.
In May 2020, Customs decided to start training Covid sniffing dogs in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Last November, Customs began training two dogs, each with their own instructor.
A pilot project trained by the Wise Nose Association, which involved Covid sniffing dogs, was carried out at Helsinki Airport at the end of last year. Dogs Kössi, Mine, ET and Light received the Kennel Club Special Hero Award for his work.
In the meantime, the Scent Recognition Company Nose Academy research dogs have continued to screen passengers at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in cooperation with the City of Vantaa and the University of Helsinki until June, HS says.
Source: The Nordic Page