The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) team at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is congratulating two new retirees, one canine and one human, for their essential work in explosive detection.
Just weeks after winning TSA’s “cutest canine” competition, the agency’s oldest sniffer dog has officially retired
Eebbers is an adorable 11-year-old Vizsla-Labrador mix. He has been working in passenger screening at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s for almost 10 years, said the TSA in a statement. “Thank you both for a tremendous career spent protecting passengers at @mspairport and other high-profile events nationwide,” the tweet said.
The agency explained that although Eebbers was still a successful sniffer dog, “the job is physically and mentally taxing on our working canines.” “Their handlers are sensitive to their abilities and enthusiasm. And we like them to retire when they still have a chance to have several years ahead of them to play, be healthy, and just be a dog.” Eebbers was the agency’s oldest working dog, the TSA added.
Eebbers was the last working dog born at the agency’s now-shuttered Puppy Program
The TSA said that like other passenger screening dogs, Eebbers is trained to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials. He was named after US Army Private James Ebbers. He died in Djibouti in 2002, said the TSA. Moreover, pictures embedded in the social media post make clear that the pair got to enjoy a retirement party with dog toys, balloons, and cake.
“We could not be more proud of the years of service Eebbers and Jean have devoted to keeping passengers safe, both at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and around the country, at numerous events,” said TSA Minnesota Federal Security Director Marty Robinson in a statement shared with CNN. “Our biggest threat is explosives coming through, and our canine teams are the best defense against that.”
“The Cutest Canine title is a fitting send-off for this dog, who will now enjoy a well-deserved retirement.”
