Airport Dogs – What They Can Do!
Dogs continue to serve important roles in maintaining airport security from the first screening before boarding to that final check while crossing through customs and border control. Airport dogs are vital fir security! However, it is important to note that it can take months of dedicated training to get the dogs up to par on their objectives in the airport. There are over 1,000 highly trained dogs that are employed in airport security roles within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They are capable of a lot! Let’s take a deep dive and see what they can do.
Stop trafficking of live, wild animals. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service relies on canine noses to sniff out wild animals who are unlucky enough to be forced into the illegal pet trade.
Preventing animal parts from traveling abroad. Dogs are trained in snigging out ivory, rhino horn, and other poached creatures.
Finding cash. Dogs that can sniff out cash are normally stationed at airports around the world identifying illegal movement of money. They find money that is likely being used in a range of nefarious purposes, from trading of wild animals to sex trafficking.
Preventing explosives. In the United States, explosives-sniffing dogs graduate from the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. They are taught to focus on snigging out passengers or luggage and packages. You will find these dogs in the security line en route to your gate.
Finding drugs. A lot of people assume that the primary focus of an airport dog is to sniff out drugs. However, they are predominantly deployed to protect planes from bombs and ecosystems from invasive species.
Providing comfort. Yes, airport dogs have been trained to sniff out bad things at the airport, but their presence provides a sense of comfort to some of the passengers. Think about it. A passenger may be anxious or stressed before going through security. Seeing a dog could help them calm down and put a smile on their face.
As you can see, airport dogs are capable of so much! The next time you are traveling, be sure to look for an airport dog and watch them while they are hard at work. Just do not pet them. They are there to do a job!
