Trinity to train explosives detection dog

Transportation Security Administration entrusts yellow Labrador Retriever to the university

by Lauren Wilks

This semester, Trinity University welcomes a new and unusual individual to campus: she’s three months old, very energetic and is in training to be a future explosives detection dog, entrusted to Trinity by the Transportation Security Administration via Lackland Air Force Base.

The puppy, Jurgens, is the first TSA dog-in-training to be fostered by university—ordinarily, such dogs spend the first year of their lives in the home of an individual or a family being simultaneously cared for and trained by the members of the pre-approved household through TSA’s Puppy Program. Through Trinity’s relationship with the TSA in San Antonio, the university has been given the express privilege to care for the puppy.

Trinity University traditionally brings TSA puppies to campus during finals each semester as a de-stressing measure for students, and the popularity of this event led the Mirage yearbook editor, senior Natalie Brown, to wonder whether the incorporation of puppies into yearbook photos could increase the normally very low turnout of upperclassmen.

“As I was trying to come up with some ideas to get people to take their yearbook photos, I came up with the idea of bringing puppies as incentive,” Brown said. “I then talked to Res Life and TSA people and eventually got the puppies to campus for the photos. I remember when I was talking to the TSA officials about the benefits of them bringing the puppies out [to Trinity], and those included the program getting its name out, and socialization for the puppies.”

It was during this time that the idea of Trinity adopting one of the puppies materialized, and Katharine Martin, adviser to Campus Publications, began talking with dean of students David Tuttle and officials related to TSA’s Puppy Program about the likelihood of the program trusting a campus to be caregivers to a puppy with such specific needs. Eventually, a proposal was made and approved. The presence of a puppy from the TSA program on a college campus is unprecedented, and Trinity is a special candidate because of its proximity to Lackland Air Force base.

“When I think about the effort that went into procuring a puppy for our campus, I just want to thank Natalie Brown, the university administration and the confidence of the TSA program,” Martin said. “Also, we wouldn’t have been able to keep her if the dean and his family hadn’t accepted Jurgens into their home for nights and weekends.”

Jurgens’s daily schedule is very particular, as she is training to be more than an ordinary pet. Although her day is made up of walks, play time and rest time in her crate, called her house, each activity has a purpose. Her walks around campus allow her to learn how to focus, even with distractions in the form of students and changing environments. Her play time is structured around her attempts to obtain her toy from whoever has signed up to spend time with her. Her rest time in her house is intended to teach her how to be self-sufficient. Every three weeks the puppy reports back to Lackland Air Force base to be tested on her training progress.

Martin cites the similarities between Jurgens’ life and the lives of the rest of the Trinity constituent.

“Jurgens, like most college kids away from home for the first time, has to learn how to be self-sufficient in the face of numerous new and exciting distractions,” Martin said.

The yellow Labrador Retriever, named for a heroic 9/11 victim, lives with Tuttle and his family nights and weekends. The family has already adjusted to the newest addition to the Trinity community and feels strongly connected with her.

“There’s this sense that she’s ours and although we have to keep this emotional barrier up, we’ve definitely bonded and at the end of her ten-month stay, it’ll be hard. She loves to play and is possessed by endless energy — students are encouraged and welcomed to, once they’re trained, text me and schedule to take Jurgens on her nighttime and weekend walks because she does demand a lot of attention,” said Dean Tuttle.

In addition to becoming part of the Tuttle family, Jurgens is becoming part of the Trinity community; she already attended a Trinity basketball game and has her own Tiger Card. Some students have already completed basic training with Martin required to become one of her handlers and are already beginning to play with her. Jurgens has both a Facebook and Twitter so that students can interact with her even more.

The participation in TSA’s Puppy Program at Trinity should be beneficial not only for Jurgens, but for students as well. The strengthened sense of community surrounding her and the therapeutic sensation of being needed and comforted promise to be gratifying for all who get to know the new campus puppy.