The police dog

Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon’s only passenger and cargo hub, is constantly busy with travelers and shipments. With such heavy traffic, ensuring the safety of people and goods is a major priority.

To maintain security, the airport relies on law enforcement and a special team of trained detection dogs. These dogs are skilled at identifying threats like explosives, drugs, or hidden cash using their keen sense of smell.

Unlike aggressive alerts, these dogs are trained to remain calm. When they detect something suspicious, they stop and stare at the object, silently signaling their handler.

During one routine inspection, a search dog at the cargo terminal suddenly froze in front of a package from Kazakhstan. Though it appeared ordinary, the dog’s reaction raised alarm. It became agitated and excited, prompting its handler to investigate further.

The package had tiny holes along the sides, possibly air vents. This unusual feature raised further suspicion, leading staff to move it to a secure area and alert the bomb squad as a precaution.

After a safe and careful inspection, officials opened the box and were shocked to find two undernourished tiger cubs inside. The cubs were weak, dirty, and dehydrated, but were quickly taken to a shelter and named Tobby and Sophie.

The tigers were illegally trafficked from a zoo in Kazakhstan, and the zoo’s director was arrested and imprisoned. While exotic animal smuggling remains a global issue, this rescue highlights the life-saving role of dedicated service dogs.