Drug ScreeningsDogs can find all sorts of narcotics, like marijuana, opium, cocaine, and heroin. These drug dogs always work in conjunction with a handler. They walk through security checkpoints sniffing the air around passengers and their luggage.
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Dogs can find all sorts of narcotics, like marijuana, opium, cocaine, and heroin. These drug dogs always work in conjunction with a handler. They walk through security checkpoints sniffing the air around passengers and their luggage.
Beagles and beagle mixes are the preferred breed of dog at the airport because of their keen sense of smell, non-threatening size, high food drive, and gentle disposition with the public.
If a dog alerts its handler to the presence of explosive odor, TSA follows an established procedure to resolve the alarm. The use of these highly-trained canines is an effective tool in deterring and detecting the introduction of explosive devices into the nation's transportation systems.
Canine Training CourseTSA's explosives detection canines are trained on a variety of explosives based on intelligence data and emerging threats. Conventional explosives detection canine handlers undergo a 11-week training course.Passenger screening canine handlers undergo a 16-week training course.
All pets should be brought to a security checkpoint in a hand-held travel carrier. Remove the pet from the carrier just prior to the beginning of the screening process. Place the empty travel carrier on the checkpoint conveyor belt so it can be X-rayed.
TSA utilizes a variety of large breed dogs. You may see sporting breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers available for adoption. Occasionally there will be German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois.
The X-ray at the security checkpoint is used to screen passengers' personal property and carry-on luggage only. If possible, carry the pet through the walk-through metal detector during the screening process. Alternately, a pet can walk through the screening process if the owner has the pet on a leash.
MORE THAN 1,000 DOGS ON THE JOBTSA itself staffs 372 dog teams, mostly for airports. TSA also covers the $24,000 average cost to buy and train each dog, and its handler, to provide 675 dogs for state and local law enforcement agencies.
TSA canines are single purpose dogs trained to detect explosives. “What our dogs do is some of the hardest training, some of the hardest testing,” said Smith. “We test every year, and then we're also tested at our own airport. That's because our dogs are passenger screening canines.