“We screen passengers, baggage, we do terminal searches, we even screen cargo,” mentioned TSA canine handler Caitlyn Winn, who’s been working together with her canine, Puk (featured on this 12 months’s calendar for October), on the Boston Logan International Airport since 2019. Like all of the dazzlers within the calendar, Puk lives at home together with her handler and leads a reasonably regular life. But on the workplace (or, airport) she goes from pet to skilled.
“Unfortunately I know they’re really cute, but you’re not allowed to pet them,” Winn mentioned.
You’ll discover a theme among the many stars of the calendar; sure breeds make nice airport staff. “We use a lot of German shorthaired pointers,” Winn mentioned. “They have really good noses.”
Our massive takeaways from studying the calendar cowl to cowl: The majority of those dynamic dogs love treats, stomach rubs and a toy referred to as Kong with Rope. In addition to the primo pet content material, the calendar is crammed with enjoyable details, corresponding to: “Canines possess a sense of smell more sensitive than even the most advanced man-made instrument. Their sniffers are powerful enough to detect substances at concentrations of one part per trillion — about the same as a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.”
It additionally marks the birthdays of the featured dogs on the suitable dates, plus some nudges to get TSA PreCheck in case you haven’t already and reminders on what’s allowed in carry-on baggage.
Without additional ado, let’s meet this 12 months’s calendar cuties.
January: Gina-Gina, LaGuardia
At 6½ years old (that’s about 45 in canine years!), Gina-Gina is a seasoned skilled and the calendar opener. She’s additionally a bona fide New Yorker, with expertise defending two of the state’s most outstanding airports: LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International. When she’s not on the job, she enjoys spending time outdoor chasing birds, frolicking within the snow and taking part in fetch.
February: Kari, Bangor International
With a reputation like Kari (Kah-re), as within the Nordic God of wind and winter, it’s no surprise this Belgian Malinois thrives in frigid Maine. At practically 8 years old, he works at each the Bangor International Airport and the Bangor Police Department. Kari is rewarded handsomely with walks alongside the Penobscot River and Ritz crackers crammed with bits of peanut butter.
March: Archy-Arce, San Francisco International
Forget Rice-A-Roni; Archy-Arce is the true San Francisco deal with. The cocoa-colored German shorthaired pointer is described as a mild large and connoisseur of rawhide chews and rooster jerky. At 6½ years old, he’s sharpened his on-the-job expertise and has turn out to be a “methodical search-style dog,” in line with his bio.
April: Erika, George Bush Intercontinental
Don’t mess with Texas, or Erika, Houston’s very personal calendar queen. Born in 2018, the German shepherd is described as a quiet canine who loves being round folks. She’s in luck: The Houston airport will get tens of millions of passengers yearly.
May: Ben, Luis Muñoz Marin International
A Puerto Rican stunner, Ben is a 2½-year-old German wirehaired pointer who additionally goes by Benito. With a salt and pepper coat and distinguished beard, Ben instructions an air of respect working his home base, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, however don’t let his seems to be idiot you. According to his bio, he’s additionally goofy. During his downtime, you’ll discover Benny boy exploring the streets of Old San Juan together with his handler, Stephanie.
June: Lubo-Lugo, Los Angeles International
Of course Lubo-Lugo works at L.A.’s airport. Look at him! The placing blond is straight out of “Barbie” together with his gleaming, toothy grin and pilates-perfect posture. He’s a golden retriever and Labrador combine, about 6 years old and like different health-focused Angelenos, he prefers his treats inexperienced. “Lugo is quite fond of Greenies as his reward,” his bio reads.
July: Zita, Minneapolis—St. Paul International
On the clock, Zita sniffs for hazard on the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. On the weekends, she’s chasing squirrels and catching up on her magnificence sleep. Born in July 2020, this German shorthaired pointer has earned a repute as a tough employee who loves toys greater than something.
August: Dina, Harry Reid International
Cue the sirens: Dina isn’t your abnormal calendar star. She’s an award-winning celeb. The 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer gained TSA’s 2023 Cutest Canine Contest. We can see why: Her black coat seems to be as silky as a seal pup and has twinkling amber eyes. Her job isn’t straightforward: She trawls the slot machine-filled halls of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and even branched out to work at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix.
September: Zeta, Tampa International
Zeta has a coat like a Girl Scouts Samoas cookie, however don’t pet her, she’s working! In her 4 quick years, this German shepherd has racked up expertise working at a few of the busiest airports within the nation. Her reward? Milk-Bones and stomach rubs.
October: Puk, Boston Logan International
At Boston Logan International Airport, Puk is all business. But within the Canine Calendar, she’s all charisma. A chocolate-coated German shorthaired pointer, the 6-year-old is a magnificence who loves lounging within the solar, chasing tennis balls and apparently posing for photographs like a Hadid sister.
November: Csimbok, Jacksonville International
November’s tongue wagging gentleman is Csimbok, a 3½-year-old, black and white German shorthaired pointer. In the Hungarian language, the title Csimbok means twigs and buds. At Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport, it means very “very good boy.” He’s described as having a robust work ethic, a ardour for working together with his handler and boundless vitality for video games like hide-and-seek.
December: Joker-Jordan, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Alert. Noble. Spunky. The 6½-year-old male Belgian Malinois patrols the world’s busiest airport and appears good doing it. In his bio, we realized that Joker-Jordan is a fan of snacks like watermelon, carrots or candy potatoes. This lad is such a legend; he even has an official TSA Canine Trading Card.
There are many, many unbelievable candidates to select from, however there are solely 12 slots per calendar. The TSA threw us a bone and included a number of bonus boys anyway.
This 12 months’s honorable mentions included: Duke-LeDuc of Los Angeles International Airport, named after Alexis LeDuc, who died within the terrorist assaults of 9/11; Rocky, a regal German shepherd on the San Antonio International Airport; and Eci of Buffalo Niagara International Airport/Niagara Falls International Airport, who has additionally labored such illustrious occasions because the 2019 MLB All-Star Game in Cleveland, 2020 Super Bowl LIV in Miami and the 2023 Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix.
