Not many individuals appreciate airports and all that accompanies them. Who in the world enjoys waiting in interminable queues, anticipating to be taken somewhere? However, that situation becomes bearable once you spot a TSA canine in action.
They are clever, courageous, and charming dogs that bring joy to our faces, even after the most exhausting flights.
The function of TSA canines is much more significant than you may realize. After all, they are the ones that detect threats and remove prohibited items.
One of these four-legged heroes recently earned his retirement after eight extensive years of service. But before he headed off to relish his golden years, the airport team threw him a memorable celebration: one last magnificent bag inspection!
Mark Howell serves as TSA’s Regional Spokesperson, and he posted the video on Twitter.
“After more than 8 years of service @INDairport, @TSA explosive detection canine TTirado has officially retired,” he tweeted.
TTirado’s TSA journey commenced in 2012 when he graduated from the third class of screening dogs. The training took place at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In fact, he was the TSA’s longest-serving agent.
TTirado eagerly anticipates his retirement. He’s being adopted by his handler, Keith Gray, a person TTirado has consistently trusted. Now, he will relish all the hugs and affection he missed at work.
Nevertheless, TTirado couldn’t depart service without a final dose of enjoyment. The video featuring his concluding bag search went viral, racking up over a million views! You can observe TTirado’s ultimate task showcasing his awesomeness here:
After more than 8 years of service @INDairport, @TSA explosive detection canine TTirado has officially retired. He was adopted by his handler Keith Gray and will spend retirement at home with his family. Check out this clip of his final bag search and reward! ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/efRwPFrmDi
— TSA Southeast (@TSA_Southeast) June 17, 2020
If you’ve followed this far, you may be curious if the typo in TTirado will fade away. No, it won’t, as that’s his actual name. TTirado was named in honor of Hector Louis Tirado, Jr. – a firefighter from New York who perished on 9/11.
Did you know that canines named after fallen heroes receive the honor of a double initial in their name? TTirado was deserving of the name, and he was a valiant companion throughout his entire service.
Now freed from the duty of sniffing for explosives and identifying illicit items, TTirado delights in spending his time dressing up. What? A dog must find something to occupy himself with now that he has all the time in the world at his fingertips.
“Happy Friday! Any weekend plans? Asking for a friend (who has lots of spare time now),” Howell remarked.
We wish TTirado countless joyful years in his retirement. He has earned the right to savor life now!