Otto

Otto began his life as a stray at the Forsyth County Animal Shelter in Georgia where USDA canine staff found and recruited him into the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia. After several months of training, Otto received his first K9 assignment as an Agriculture Detector Dog on the island of Guam for Guam Customs. After two years in Guam, Otto’s handler dropped leash and he spent a year as a backup dog without a regular handler. In 2019, Otto returned to USDA ‘s NDDTC where he he continued training until he met his final handler and forever friend. Otto ended his career in late 2021 after five years as an Agriculture Canine for US Customs and Border Protection at the San Luis Arizona Border Crossing where made many friends and inspired multiple Officers and Agriculture Specialists to pursue careers as canine handlers. Since retirement Otto has successfully transitioned to a member of his handlers family. Otto rode shotgun with his handler in the UHaul as the family moved to Kentucky and has become a professional couch potato and spends his time hanging out in the couch with his handler, playing with the families other dogs and chasing his Wubba.