The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has a drug dog named Adolf and it is one of the top dogs that they have.
A now-deleted tweet by the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Buffalo sector for International Dog Day honored Adolf, along with other working dogs Delta, Doris and Pistol. Many people around the world were delighted and support the dogs despite having a name similar with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
CBP Buffalo spokesperson Michael Niezgoda confirms that the dog's name is Adolf. The Shepherd dog was purchased from the Netherlands by the CBP Canine Center in El Paso, Texas in July 2013 and has become one of the top dogs in the sector for his drug seizures, Niezgoda tells TIME.
"However people think, that’s their own thoughts, but Adolf is a common name," Niezgoda says.
CBP credits Adolf with seizing more than 230 pounds of narcotics valued at more than US$ 1.3 million including a currency seizure of more than US$ 340,000 during his career with Border Patrol.
Niezgoda says he deleted the tweet because the CBP’s canine unit had not been notified yet that images of their dogs would be shared on social media, and "with some sensitivity of what’s going on along the southern border, we pulled the tweet." Niezgoda says the tweet was not re-posted because it wasn't until the end of the day that the dog's handlers approved of the photos being shared.
Niezgoda says because the dog's name is officially registered as Adolf, changing his name would present a legal challenge.
"We don't change the names because they have a training history," he says. "And furthermore, the dog, Adolf... he's a top dog for the northern border of New York and has received three top dog awards for his seizures."
Because of his achievements, Adolf is getting the attention of several fans and gained a number of following. They defied the request of the few cry babies who got offended by the name. A counter petition was organized to ensure that the dog retains its name.
A now-deleted tweet by the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Buffalo sector for International Dog Day honored Adolf, along with other working dogs Delta, Doris and Pistol. Many people around the world were delighted and support the dogs despite having a name similar with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
CBP Buffalo spokesperson Michael Niezgoda confirms that the dog's name is Adolf. The Shepherd dog was purchased from the Netherlands by the CBP Canine Center in El Paso, Texas in July 2013 and has become one of the top dogs in the sector for his drug seizures, Niezgoda tells TIME.
"However people think, that’s their own thoughts, but Adolf is a common name," Niezgoda says.
CBP credits Adolf with seizing more than 230 pounds of narcotics valued at more than US$ 1.3 million including a currency seizure of more than US$ 340,000 during his career with Border Patrol.
Niezgoda says he deleted the tweet because the CBP’s canine unit had not been notified yet that images of their dogs would be shared on social media, and "with some sensitivity of what’s going on along the southern border, we pulled the tweet." Niezgoda says the tweet was not re-posted because it wasn't until the end of the day that the dog's handlers approved of the photos being shared.
Niezgoda says because the dog's name is officially registered as Adolf, changing his name would present a legal challenge.
"We don't change the names because they have a training history," he says. "And furthermore, the dog, Adolf... he's a top dog for the northern border of New York and has received three top dog awards for his seizures."
Because of his achievements, Adolf is getting the attention of several fans and gained a number of following. They defied the request of the few cry babies who got offended by the name. A counter petition was organized to ensure that the dog retains its name.