Nanny's nose one of the best at protecting public

Feds: Detecting explosives Nanny's specialty

SAN ANTONIO – Looking at Nanny the English Labrador, you see her big brown eyes, but it’s her nose that makes her one of the best at protecting the public.

She’s been with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives for seven years, which is most of her life.  

Almost 9 years old now, Nanny is likely to retire when she turns 10, said her handler, Special Agent Andrea Devilliers, who will have the chance to adopt Nanny when the time comes.

“Best partner in the world,” Devilliers said. “The best tool you can have out there when you’re dealing with explosives.”

She said Nanny’s work ethic shows in some of career stats. As of last September, Devilliers said they include working nearly 60 search warrants, more than 200 investigative searches, and making over a hundred “finds.”

Devilliers said throughout Nanny’s long career she’s been deployed to conduct nearly 450 searches.

She said Nanny does “protective sweeps,” sniffing out possible trouble, at major events from Fiesta to the upcoming Super Bowl in Houston in February.

Based out of San Antonio, Nanny and Devilliers cover 50 Texas counties in addition to wherever else they’re needed.

She said knowing Nanny’s skills, law enforcement agencies often ask for their help.

“You get the tool of detection and you have an investigator attached to it,” Devilliers said.

She said they respond to explosive call-outs, post-blast scenes or any crime involving a firearm.

“She’s been involved in a lot of homicide cases and violent crime cases where the firearm has not been located,” Devilliers said.

Devilliers said rather than pulling officers off the streets to look for the weapons tossed along roadsides or among tall weeks, Nanny’s nose smells the gunshot residue to find the needed evidence, even underground.

“She’s been successful in locating a firearm that had been buried for two months,” Devilliers said.

Nanny’s skills and determination impressed a canine instructor who told Devilliers, “If she was human, she would show up early and pack a lunch.”

In fact, Nanny’s only source of food are the doggie treats that Devilliers keeps in a fanny pack. She turns to look each time Devilliers reaches for it, then politely waits for her treats.

She also knows what her handler means when she hears, “Ready to go to work? Let’s go to work.”

Devilliers said when they get home, “It’s almost like a switch. She becomes a crazy Labrador like all the rest.”

She said Nanny loves to swim and chase balls, along with her three other Labradors.

And when Nanny sees Devilliers not putting on her uniform in the mornings, “Then she typically goes back to bed.”

Devilliers said besides Nanny’s professional skills never ceasing to amaze her, “She’s definitely the Queen Bee at the house.”


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.