A working dog has been officially recognized as Animal of the Year for its specialized ability to detect the carpet sea squirt, an invasive marine organism often referred to as 'sea vomit.' The creature, which is scientifically known as *Didemnum vexillum*, is a colonial tunicate that can rapidly spread across the seafloor, potentially smothering native marine life and disrupting local ecosystems.

The dog's training allows it to identify the presence of the organism in marine environments, providing a non-invasive and efficient method for environmental monitoring. By locating these colonies, the dog assists conservationists in mapping the extent of the infestation and determining where intervention is necessary to protect biodiversity. This recognition highlights the growing use of trained animals in environmental conservation and the management of invasive species. While the BBC report focuses on the success of the detection program, it does not detail the specific geographic location of the project or the broader long-term ecological outcomes of the intervention.