Eebbers, TSA’s longest working and cutest K9, retired after nearly a decade: NPR

Eebbers, an 11-year-old explosives detection dog, retired after nearly a decade of service.

Transport Security Management

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Transport Security Management

Eebbers, an 11-year-old explosives detection dog, retired after nearly a decade of service.

Transport Security Management

A K9 Transportation Security Administration named Eebbers retired after nearly a decade of service, during which time he was named the agency’s oldest bomb-sniffing dog, as well as the The cutest dog of the agency.

Here’s an objective fact (though it’s also true that every dog ​​is the best dog): Eebbers won “The most adorable dog contest of 2022” by TSA in August, shortly before he celebrated his retirement with a lavish farewell at his home at Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport (MSP).

11 year old vizsla-Labrador mix born in TSA’s Puppy show at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and at the time of his retirement, was the last remaining Puppy Program dog who still worked daily for the agency. He is named after US Army Pvt. James Ebbers, died aged 19 in Djibouti, Africa in 2002 while assigned to the 551st Military Police Company (based in Fort Campbell, Ky.).

In addition to his work as an explosives detector while working as a passenger canine at the MSP, Eebbers also helps with security at major sporting events including two Super Bowls, the Indianapolis 500, and a National Championship soccer game. NCAA and Special Olympics Games. And he also makes time for fun.

“He stays active every day, even during the cold Minnesota winters, and he enjoys swimming in any of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota in the summer,” the TSA said.

Passenger canines like Eebbers are trained to detect the smell of explosives or explosives among travelers, usually during security checkpoints, and alert their handlers if they sniff it. something suspicious. They are tested regularly to ensure they are suitable for service in crowded airports – and while they are very sociable, the agency said, they are working dogs that should only be the contact person touches and feeds.

“His trained sense of smell amazes me every day,” Jean Carney, manager and lifelong associate of Eebbers, told Minnesota’s Star Tribune.

She described him as smart, gentle and polite, adding that he would be waiting at the stairs at 3:30 a.m., ready to go to work.

According to Carney, most dogs retire when they are 7 or 8 years old due to the demands of a high-pressure job. She said she wanted Eebbers to “enjoy her final years as just a dog.”

“It’s inevitable that he’ll come to a point where he’ll start to slow down and possibly start not as proficient as he was when he was younger,” she said, according to CBS branch KENS5. “I don’t want him to come out with a low note.”

That is definitely not the case. Last month, Eebbers won the title of TSA’s cutest dog in a nationwide social media contest in which he was chosen by public vote out of four finalists (narrow by TSA officers from a field of nearly 100).

Days later, he and Carney celebrated their last day at work, with some special surprises.

Eebbers’ “no-baby” vest has been replaced with a standard collar and laces, meaning he can finally get the buzz from colleagues and admirers. He was showered with stuffed toys and celebrated with some bomb-shaped cakes, and both he and Carney received commemorative plaques.

“It’s the culmination of what we’ve worked on all these years,” Carney told KENS5. “He’s worked really hard all these years. He is very dedicated, and a hard worker, and the only thing he asks for is [for] that toy. “

So what does post-retirement happiness mean to Eebbers? The first thing, according to Carney, was swimming in Iowa’s Okoboji Lake and hiking with his sister Etti (who himself is retired from the FBI).

Eebbers and his fans have much more to look forward to. For instance, later this year, TSA will announce the availability of the 2023 Canine Calendar – which will feature Eebbers on the cover.