Australian Border Force Dog Detection Unit boss Natalie Cross praises Angus and Tommy who retire after years of service

After years of helping the Australian Border Force keep the Far North safe by locating weapons, drugs and money, beloved canines Angus and Tommy have retired from the Dog Detection Unit.

After a stellar career locating drug cash, narcotics and weapons while on patrol across the Far North, two of the hardest working detector dogs to grace the Australian Border Force (ABF) Cairns headquarters have retired – one on his ninth birthday.

Now detector dogs Angus, 9, and Tommy, 8, have hung up their harnesses, the most urgent mission the highly-trained labradors will face involve tummy rubs, morning walks, treats and constant playtime.

Last week Angus enjoyed a special birthday cake baked by his handler, Far North Queensland Dog Detection Unit team leader Natalie Cross to celebrate his retirement.

Ms Cross has been a dog handler since 2016 and said working with the canine duo has been a wonderful experience.

Australian Border Force Dog Detection Unit team leader Natalie Cross with her beloved canine co-workers Tommy (left) and Angus (right) who are retiring after being based in Cairns for five years. Picture: Alison Paterson

“Angus is a cash and firearms detector dog and has more than 63 firearms seizures,” Ms Cross said.

“He has helped us locate many items including drug cash hidden in ceilings.

“Angus has been an incredible part of our team and we will really miss him.”

Ms Cross said her other detector dog Tommy who specialised in locating narcotics will retire next week.

She said while Tommy is being adopted by a former police dog unit technical officer in Brisbane, Angus will stay with her family in Cairns.

Ms Cross said it was sad to face saying goodbye to Tommy as the pair has a long and close working relationship.

“I have worked with Tommy for five years,” Ms Cross said.

“I will miss him.”

Australian Border Force Cairns Dog Detection Unit team leader Natalie Cross with her Angus, who has retired on his ninth birthday after locating dozens of weapons and drug currency during their five year partnership, Picture: Alison Paterson

However, Ms Cross’s new canine partner has already been assigned

“This weekend I (received) my new dog Whisky,” she said.

“We will start bonding right away.”

She said ABF detector dogs were trained to detect narcotics, firearms, currency, tobacco and explosives and provide a complimentary skill set alongside the intuition of our officers and technologies such as x-ray and trace particle detection.

ABF detection digs Angus (left) and Timmy (right) have retired to a life of leisure after five year hard work locating weapons, drug cash and narcotics across the Far North. Picture: Supplied

In December 2022, Ms Cross, Angus and Tommy travelled to the Torres Strait to appear in forthcoming documentary about how the ABF Detector Dog program is a vital element in helping to protect Australia by detecting prohibited or regulated goods such as drugs, firearms,

explosives, tobacco and currencies at or beyond the border.

Originally published as Australian Border Force Dog Detection Unit boss Natalie Cross praises Angus and Tommy who retire after years of service