Zita, the Twin Cities-based German shorthaired pointer that was within the hunt for the Transportation Security Administration’s Cutest Canine this 12 months, has misplaced within the first spherical to an Atlanta pooch.
The bomb-sniffing canine at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport couldn’t overcome Joker-Jordan, a Belgian Malinois from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in public polling performed through TSA’s social media platforms.
Joker-Jordan now faces Dina, a German shorthaired pointer from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, for the highest prize. The winner will probably be introduced Monday.
Three-year-old Zita graduated from the TSA’s Canine Training Center in November 2022 and was assigned to MSP to switch Eebbers, a vizsla-Labrador mix who retired to Iowa final 12 months after being named 2022’s Cutest Canine.
The information means Zita could have ample time to pursue her hobbies, which embrace napping, chasing squirrels, and spending time in native parks.
TSA has greater than 1,000 explosives-detection canine groups deployed nationwide. Officials say the extremely skilled canines are vital in detecting the scent of explosives and explosive supplies. The pooches are paired with handlers to make the most of their eager sense of scent when working in a “busy transportation atmosphere,” in line with a information launch. They’re additionally skilled to work on public transit and in maritime settings.
