MFA Boston hires dog as conservator to sniff out pests

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has hired Riley, a twelve-week-old Weimaraner puppy, as its first canine conservator. The pilot project was conceived by Nicki Luongo, head of security services at the museum and Riley's owner, who previously worked as a police dog trainer. Riley will use his sense of smell to detect moths and parasites that could damage the museum's collection of approximately 450,000 works. Training will follow a reward system, and the dog will work only after hours, behind the scenes, to avoid distraction from visitors. In 2016, the MFA announced a $24 million investment in a new conservation center and exhibition space for Asian, European, and ancient art. Riley is not the first dog involved in art: this summer in New York, critic Jessica Dawson organized "dOGUMENTA," a show for dogs, with her Yorkshire terrier Rocky. In 2016, British designer Dominic Wilcox curated an exhibition at dog height featuring contemporary art and installations with bowls, bones, and water jets, lasting two days and launching the PlayMore campaign.