In April of 2023, researchers at Texas Tech and Virginia Tech teamed up to run a proof-of-concept study – could pet dogs around the U.S. be trained to find one of the most environmentally damaging invasive species, the spotted lanternfly (SLF)? SLF is presently in 18 states, including New York and Massachusetts, and leaves the environment looking like “scorched earth without the fire.” It’s predicted to be in Maine by 2026, if not sooner. Melissa McCue-McGrath, a dog trainer and behavior consultant at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, Maine, initially thought they would not be picked to participate in the study after applying in April, 2023. But, in November, she received an email with unexpected news. The researchers were looking for a second cohort of dogs and trainers to complete the study that winter. Six pet dogs enrolled in McCue-McGrath’s scent work classes at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk were tapped to represent Vacationland in the study. They were already trained to find a variety of oils on a Q-tip for fun, pivoted their focus to save the environment. The teams were shipped dead SLF eggs, packed them in a Pokemon lunchbox,, and got to work. This presentation describes the six teams’ ten month journey helping researchers across the country, how they trained their dogs to find SLF, and the challenges they overcame training in a brutal Maine winter as another environmental threat – climate change – threatened their plans.

Sponsor:Pet Professional Guild
Speaker(s):Melissa McCue-McGrath

Contact: Rebekah King
 Email: events@petprofessionalguild.com
 Web: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/can-pet-dogs-around-the-us-be-trained-