Shelby Zakrzewski, Ruby, Shane Phillips & Lucky
Invasive species are constantly adapting and infiltrating our Pennsylvanian domain, forcing the Department of Agriculture to act and evolve their pest detection practices. Fortunately for us, Shelby Zakrzewski, Shane Phillips, and their pups Ruby and Lucky are just the team to take charge.
Lucky, an almost six-year-old German Shepard, was introduced to the Department of Agriculture after her handler, Shane Phillips, learned of a research project Penn Vet conducted to see if dogs could smell spotted lantern fly eggs. This study was fascinating, as the PDA has a permit program which requires businesses that move product to have their vehicles inspected for the egg masses before they leave. Once a grant from the USDA was approved, Lucky began her training at eight weeks old. She began her work for Pennsylvania when she was a year and a half.
Ruby, the youngest of the crew at two and a half years old, began her work just shy of a year ago. The Dutch Shepard calls home anywhere her handler, Shelby Zakrzewski, is. Like Lucky, Ruby is also a graduate of the Penn Vet Working Dogs Center in Philadelphia. While both dogs primarily focus on the spotted lantern fly infestation throughout the state, they are now trained to detect box treemoth eggs and larvae-- an increasing threat to boxwood plants.
Since Zakrzewski resides in Pittsburgh and Phillips hails to Harrisburg, the dogs split up their work by dividing the state; Ruby controls the western half while Lucky patrols in the east. This isn’t to say that the duo hasn’t partnered up in the past; according to Zakrzewski: “We train together. We’ll do a monthly training where we meet up just to make sure they’re on the top of their game. We’ve been to Erie together to do some inspections for the box treemoth up there.” Both Shelby and Shane agree that if there would be another invasive species to become a serious threat to our agricultural landscape, they would be happy to take on the project. Shane states: “I would certainly be interested in continuing to cross train on additional pests, but that’s just a matter of what comes along and what people want to fund to train on.”
Ruby and Lucky have made appearances at the 2025 PA Farm Show to raise awareness for the critical work that they do and inform others of the threat that these invasive species pose on our crops and our rich farmlands. We thank Shelby, Shane, Ruby, and Lucky for the work that they do and love having them here educate our visitors at the Lancaster Farming Stage!
#PoweringPennsylvania #2025PAFarmShow #RubyandLucky
By Paige Goerman
Shelby Zakrzewski, Ruby, Shane Phillips & Lucky
Invasive species are constantly adapting and infiltrating our Pennsylvanian domain, forcing the Department of Agriculture to act and evolve their pest detection practices. Fortunately for us, Shelby Zakrzewski, Shane Phillips, and their pups Ruby and Lucky are just the team to take charge.
Lucky, an almost six-year-old German Shepard, was introduced to the Department of Agriculture after her handler, Shane Phillips, learned of a research project Penn Vet conducted to see if dogs could smell spotted lantern fly eggs. This study was fascinating, as the PDA has a permit program which requires businesses that move product to have their vehicles inspected for the egg masses before they leave. Once a grant from the USDA was approved, Lucky began her training at eight weeks old. She began her work for Pennsylvania when she was a year and a half.
Ruby, the youngest of the crew at two and a half years old, began her work just shy of a year ago. The Dutch Shepard calls home anywhere her handler, Shelby Zakrzewski, is. Like Lucky, Ruby is also a graduate of the Penn Vet Working Dogs Center in Philadelphia. While both dogs primarily focus on the spotted lantern fly infestation throughout the state, they are now trained to detect box treemoth eggs and larvae-- an increasing threat to boxwood plants.
Since Zakrzewski resides in Pittsburgh and Phillips hails to Harrisburg, the dogs split up their work by dividing the state; Ruby controls the western half while Lucky patrols in the east. This isn’t to say that the duo hasn’t partnered up in the past; according to Zakrzewski: “We train together. We’ll do a monthly training where we meet up just to make sure they’re on the top of their game. We’ve been to Erie together to do some inspections for the box treemoth up there.” Both Shelby and Shane agree that if there would be another invasive species to become a serious threat to our agricultural landscape, they would be happy to take on the project. Shane states: “I would certainly be interested in continuing to cross train on additional pests, but that’s just a matter of what comes along and what people want to fund to train on.”
Ruby and Lucky have made appearances at the 2025 PA Farm Show to raise awareness for the critical work that they do and inform others of the threat that these invasive species pose on our crops and our rich farmlands. We thank Shelby, Shane, Ruby, and Lucky for the work that they do and love having them here educate our visitors at the Lancaster Farming Stage!
#PoweringPennsylvania #2025PAFarmShow #RubyandLucky
By Paige Goerman