If you’re flying through San Francisco International Airport any time soon, keep your eyes peeled for the most adorable member of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Barni, a 5-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, was just officially crowned the TSA’s Cutest Canine.
The TSA chose Barni through a two-round public vote on their social media platforms. This annual contest, coinciding with National Dog Day on August 26, celebrates the agency’s hardworking canine officers.
Barni has been employed by the TSA since 2022. The chocolate brown dog works with his handler, Michelle Cogle, to sniff out traces of explosives at the airport. “Because he is so very handsome, he attracts attention from passengers who we screen as they work their way through the security checkpoint line,” says Cogle. “He loves his job keeping travelers safe and he enjoys meeting and sniffing passengers.”
Barni enjoys frequent breaks while on the job to play with his favorite toy, a squeaky ball. Of course, Barni isn’t the only adorable TSA K-9 officer around. The agency has trained over 1,000 canine teams that work at airports and mass-transit facilities across the country. These dogs are trained to detect the scents of explosives and explosive materials on and inside stationary objects as well as moving objects, such as passengers and luggage.
If you want to see more of these good boys and girls, be sure to watch the TSA’s website, as their free 2025 Canine Calendar will be released in late fall. Click here to get the 2024 calendar.
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