Every dog has its day. For Pino, that day is Friday.
Pino, the oldest of the 500 working dogs in the TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, will be retiring on Friday after 10 years and 11 months of service to the airport K-9 team at Lambert-St.Louis International Airport (STL).
During her career, the 13 year-old Belgian Malinois worked numerous high profile events at the airport and when on loan to other agencies. She helped with protection details for two U.S. presidents, the 1999 St. Louis visit of Pope John Paul II, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
What are Pino’s plans for retirement? She’s going to hang around the home of her police partner, Sgt. Steve Swafford, following a final Friday morning shift at Lambert.
Pino with her partner, Sgt. Steve Swafford.
(Photos courtesy Lambert-St.Louis International Airport)