TPA welcomes new explosive detection K9

(February 28, 2018) Tampa International Airport has a new tool in the fight to keep us safe: Anya, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois with a set of skills unlike any other at the Airport. 

Anya is specially trained in explosive detection and explosive odor pursuit and came to TPA on Feb. 13 as part of the new Explosive Detection Interdiction Canine program.

The program trains dogs to actively pursue explosives and detect odor at greater distances than conventional bomb-sniffing dogs would.

Anya’s handler, Officer Chris Reggi, trained with Anya for 14 weeks with Metro-Dade K9 Services. She is recertified yearly, and continues training on a monthly basis in Miami. 

When Anya’s not working, she’s happy to be spending time with Officer Reggi, or playing with her Kong toy.

Sgt. Jeff Browning, who oversees TPA’s K9 units, said officers often spend more time with their dogs than they do their family.

“The dogs are the first thing they see when they wake up and the last thing they see before they go to sleep,” he said.

Sgt. Browning says that all of the dogs in the K9 unit are incredible, but Anya is the best of the best.

“We would like to have more like Anya,” he said. “She’s amazing.”