Of course, few travelers are thrilled when their carefully hidden delicacies are unearthed, even if the detection comes with a wagging tail. But neither the dogs nor their handlers are swiping the confiscated food. Instead, the beagles receive a treat — a pepperoni stick or tiny milk bone, for example — for the discovery, while their handlers are bound by the Agriculture Department’s regulations.

“When you’re taking their $900 prosciutto ham that they bought and were sure that they can bring in, I get why we’re not their favorite person, but I promise we’re not taking it to the back room to eat,” said Christopher Brewer, the Customs and Border Protection agriculture branch chief for airports in the Washington area.

“The dog is one of the layers of defense to prevent the introduction of something harmful to agriculture,” he added.

That harm could be catastrophic.

Currently, the Agriculture Department is prioritizing the detection of African swine fever, a highly contagious and deadly disease not yet present in the United States that risks being transmitted through pork sausages and cured meats smuggled in from abroad.