SOUVENIR

Bomb-Sniffing Dog Inducted into California Animal Hall of Fame

Souvenir, who retired from the California Highway Patrol after more than eight years on active duty, will be inducted into the Animal Hall of Fame in ceremonies held by the California Veterinary Medical Association in Southern California today. Souvenir is a male black Labrador retriever who was the first explosive detection canine in the history of the CHP. Souvenir joined when the California State Police and the California Highway Patrol merged in 1995. In December of 1991 Souvenir detected a homemade bomb that had been mailed to then-Governor Pete Wilson and was already in the governor's correspondence unit. Souvenir alerted his handler, CSP officer Doug Green, that live explosives were in the unit, and Green took the appropriate action. The bomb was defused before it could explode saving staffers from injury or death. Governor Wilson presented Souvenir with a commendation for all he had done to protect the state and dignitaries ranging from President Clinton and former President Reagan, Ford and Carter to Vice President Al Gore and former Governor George Deukmajian. CHP said Souvenir detected or confirmed many suspected explosive devices during his career. Souvenir's patrol duties included the governor's and legislative offices. He was called on to assist other agencies in Sacramento and neighboring counties. He searched out explosives in a number of sites, working at the airport, local schools and other sites. Since he retired, Souvenir is taking life easy and lives in the Sacramento Area with his handler, Doug Green.