The U.S. Transportation Security Administration
Posted by admin on September 2nd, 2009It is not easy to become a TSA dog (The U.S. Transportation Security Administration) From birth, careful attention is paid to nutrition and medication, growth is regularly measured, living conditions must be clean, and a support network is developed. Just like bringing up a child!
Scott Thomas and a team of five manage the program which was started in 2002. The center of operations is based at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Besides pure-bred labradors, labradors are also bred with Hungarian vizslas, resulting in a hybrid “vizslador” that has proven its worth at TSA. “The combination gives us the nose of a vizsla and the enthusiasm for play of a labrador retriever,” said Thomas.
The team have set a target of breeding at least 100 puppies annually. Each pup is named after one of the 9/11 victim. Thomas admitted it was a daunting task “We spend every day trying to manage the economics, science and practicalities of breeding and developing dogs,” he said.
Puppies’ development is regularly assessed and training can begin at 12 months. Puppies are placed with families for human socialization as early as nine weeks.
Training is rigorous. Some may not pass a battery of tests, others may exhibit behavioral problems.
“Our main concern is that every one of these dogs, if they don’t work out for us, be placed in a good home,” said Thomas. Graduating dogs that TSA doesn’t select may become family pets or find careers with other law enforcement agencies or the U.S. military.
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