Dedicated Dog Receives Tennis Ball Shower for Retirement from TSA Duty

After years of dedicated service, Messi, a yellow Labrador retriever who worked as a passenger screening canine and explosive detection dog at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, has officially retired. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Messi’s retirement on Friday, April 19, in a heartwarming press release.

Described as a lovable and hard-working dog, Messi enjoyed his time at the airport sniffing for any traces of explosives and playing with his favorite toy, a tennis ball, after a busy day of work. To celebrate his years of service, Messi was surprised with a retirement party filled with love and appreciation.

The TSA shared a video of Messi’s retirement shindig on social media, showing the Lab turning a corner to find a “Congrats!” banner and being showered with tennis balls. The clip captured the joy and excitement of Messi as he embraced his well-deserved retirement.

During the party, Messi’s handler, Peter, removed his “Do Not Pet” patch, signifying that the canine was off duty forever and could now enjoy all the belly rubs he desired. In a heartwarming twist, Peter announced that he would be adopting Messi, ensuring that the duo would stay together even in retirement.

As a famous canine, Messi was even featured on a TSA canine calendar for the month of February, solidifying his legacy as a dedicated and beloved member of the TSA team. Cheers to Messi on his well-earned retirement and to many relaxing days ahead filled with love and play!