Love letter doesn't come up roses with MPI

A love letter fileld with rose petals was meant for someone in New Zealand, but Cleo said 'no' (Supplied)
A love letter fileld with rose petals was meant for someone in New Zealand, but Cleo said 'no' (Supplied)

They say love is blind but it definitely has a smell, as one New Zealand sniffer dog found out when it stopped a rose petal-laden letter at the border.

The love letter sent from Australia was sniffed out by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity dog Cleo last month.

The short handwritten note reading 'I love you XXX' was intercepted at the International Mail Centre in Auckland where the fresh rose petals had to be taken out.

MPI manager for northern passenger and mail Craig Hughes says Cleo was quick to find Romeo's message.

"She stuck her nose right on the letter. Her tail started wagging like crazy and she responded perfectly, so we definitely knew there was something in there." They had no choice but to remove the petals because strict import rules forbid fresh roses from entering the country due to their risk of diseases or insects.

But the letter's recipient was left with some consolation, after staff took a photo of the romantic gesture.

They were also sent a less-loving message about the sender's options which included a return to sender or for the petals to be treated or destroyed.

While loved-up people do send rose petals through the post, particularly around Valentine's Day, they're not an everyday find.

Mr Hughes says dogs are best to pick up the scent because the petals are difficult to pick on with x-ray scans.

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