JAKE THE DOPE-SNIFFING DOG BOW-WOWS OUT OF THE JOB

THIS pooch is done putting his nose to the grindstone.

Jake the drug-sniffing dog has officially retired after six years on
the job with the Canada Border Services Agency.

The eight-year-old male black Labrador cross had been working with
his handler at the Winnipeg International Airport since the summer of 2000.

Jake's last day nosing around people's luggage was July 24. His
replacement, Charlie, a dead ringer for his predecessor, is already on the job.

But it's been a tough transition from workaholic mutt to household
pet for Jake, who acted more like he was enjoying a day at the park
than performing an invaluable service.

In fact, other than a little touch of grey on his chin, there's
little to suggest the big, lovable beast is ready to pack it in. But
CBSA evaluators say he's slowing down.

"It's been hard on him... it's been hard on me," said his handler,
Connie, a customs agent who didn't want her last name used. She cares
for both dogs at her home.

"It's hard for me to leave him in the house. He gets so excited as
soon I put my uniform on," she said. "This was like playtime to him.
I just hope he'll be happy."

The two have been virtually inseparable since Connie, a 22-year
veteran of CBSA, took over as handler of the local detector dog
program and started working with Jake as a puppy.

Jake came from the Kelowna Humane Society and was matched with Connie
at the CBSA's training school in Rigaud, Que.

They formed one of the approximately 70 detector dog teams
strategically located across Canada, serving both travellers and
commercial operations.

The dogs are trained to root out narcotics, firearms, currency and
agriculture products that could contain harmful pests and diseases.
Jake's specialty was sniffing out drugs -- he can identify the scent
of 12 different contraband substances -- and he's been credited with
some pretty significant busts during his career.

A few years back, he aided in the seizure of nearly 23 kilograms of
hashish, with a street value of nearly $600,000. And, more recently,
his powerful sniffer helped agents uncover nearly 700 ecstasy pills
worth $28,000.

Jake was trained as a passive detector dog, meaning he simply sat
down beside the source of the contraband odour and looked over to his handler.

"Everyone on line is usually clapping when they see him working --
except for the guy he's sitting in front of," Connie said, with a laugh.

Each time Jake found drugs, he was rewarded with his favourite toy,
usually something plush and squeaky.

"He knows that, 'When I smell this, I get some loving,'" she said.

Without him, a lot of drugs wouldn't have been found, Connie said.

"In the airport, about 98 per cent of his finds are in people's
underwear," she said. "He finds them, even if there's no indication
to us (someone is carrying an illegal substance).

"He's also a big deterrent ... people know he's here." The dog has
won numerous awards as well, including first place at the 2003
Canadian Police Canine trials in narcotics detection.

The popular detector dog has also visited numerous schools in the
city and has thrilled kids with a variety of demonstrations.

This morning, there's a retirement sendoff for the special dog at 10
a.m. in the airport's Observation Lounge.

No word on whether Jake's getting a gold bone.