Feces-Sniffing Dogs Go to Work in North Hampton

Dogs with specialized training will be used Wednesday afternoon to sample North Hampton State Beach in the hopes that the canines can shed more light on a fecal bacteria issue that has officials and residents concerned.

The dogs, which are capable of sniffing out different types of fecal bacteria as well as determining whether the fecal matter was made by a human or animals, will begin sampling the main beach, the nearby fish houses and Bass Beach at 12:30 p.m., according to information provided by Emily DiFranco, a project manager and water quality specialist for FB Environmental Associates, the Portsmouth firm overseeing the work for North Hampton.    

The feces-sniffing dogs are funded by $8,670 in town meeting-appropriated money that officials are using as part of a multi-step plan to continue to eliminate failing septic systems and other sources of bacteria contaminating local beaches. 

Some of the beach bacteria has been introduced by runoff from Little River — which flows into the ocean near North Hampton State Beach — as many of the 2013 bacteria problems have come during periods of rain. Officials say there could be other sources of bacteria contamination, though, whether it be nearby beach and fish houses or animal waste, according to North Hampton Town Administrator Paul Apple.

DiFranco said the dogs will be used on various beaches in Rye following the North Hampton testing, which she said could be "a little trickier" than usual because low tide is at 1:30 p.m.

A special canine detection demonstration will then be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Locals Restaurant and Pub parking lot. Anyone is welcome to attend and see how the dogs make a positive source identification when they smell a bacteria sample, according to DiFranco.