February 8, 2022
Port of Seattle Police Department (POSPD) canine Ty loves chasing balls, affection from his favorite humans, and sniffing out threats to keep SEA Airport safe. Ty is an extremely hard worker, and staying in close proximity to his handler, Commander Hannah Minnehan, helps keep his severe anxiety at bay.
Minnehan and Ty, like all POSPD officers paired with canines, are more than just coworkers or partners at work. They patrol together, take lunch breaks together, and at the end of the shift, they head home together.
Port of Seattle canines work to detect explosives at the airport and seaport and play a key role in keeping air transportation safe for travel and commerce.
“Ty is a super hard worker,” Minnehan said. “A lot of dogs will work for a reward, like a squeaky toy, but he’d give that up for us to love on him and pet him; he’s a love bug.”
When Minnehan was promoted out of the canine unit at the end of 2020, POSPD had to make a choice. The seven-year-old Labrador Retriever had been on the job four and a half years, and could make the switch to another handler in the canine unit or opt for early retirement. A medical assessment and recommendation from a veterinarian indicated that due to Ty’s separation anxiety, a transfer to another handler would likely be very challenging for both Ty and the new handler. So the Port decided the best decision was to set the new handler up with a younger dog without those issues.
Today Ty is enjoying an early retirement with his family, which includes Minnehan and her two senior rescue dogs, ages 12 and 13. During their time at the Port, canine officers live with their handlers, so they can socialize and bond on and off the job. Most handlers formally adopt the dogs after they retire.
Creating a streamlined process
Although handlers adopting their canines is a common practice, the process has been complicated in the past, because the dogs are classified as equipment under Washington state guidelines. Typically “equipment” includes furniture and technology that is no longer usable, but can extend to anything with monetary value — including a dog.
The Port’s canine teams currently consist of both TSA-trained dogs and Air Scent-trained dogs. Before 2017, the Port canines were all trained by TSA and followed TSA’s process for retiring canines. The Air Scent-trained dogs are purchased and owned by the Port, and Ty is the first of them to retire.
Because the police department now has six other Air-Scent trained canines that will retire in the coming years, Minnehan and the department worked with Port staff to establish a process for retiring canines that follows Washington state law and mirrors TSA’s successful process. The new process streamlines the adoption process and no longer requires the Commission approval typically required for Port employees to acquire Port property.
Like family
Minnehan has worked with three canines over the years at the Port but Ty holds a special place in her heart.
“Ty is so special,” she said. “He is a different dog. He loves playtime with his ball and he just wants to be loved. He works so hard on the job to have 15 to 30 seconds of cuddle and loving time. He’ll jump on me to get his hug. He is always trying to find the next thing to get your attention. Ty loves every second of your hands on him; he just melts into you.”
One of Minnehan’s favorite memories with Ty on the job was when he would relax in her office, waiting for the next person to come in so he could greet them and get their attention.
When at home, Ty can be found lounging on his dog bed or getting outside and running around. He hasn’t quite let go of his working instincts yet.
“We've been playing football with him in the snow, and when the football gets buried, he doesn’t give up trying to find it,” she said.
To help him burn extra energy while she’s at work, Minnehan has been dropping Ty off at doggy day care once a week to socialize with other dogs.
“He’s a high energy dog and gets himself in trouble sometimes,” she said. “He is a fantastic running dog; I don’t think I can ever tire him out.”
On other days when Minnehan is at work, her mother takes care of Ty. On her off time, Minnehan said she’s looking forward to taking him on RV trips and helping him learn how to be a pet, rather than a canine officer.
“He doesn’t have to work anymore, but he’s found another job protecting our house,” she said.
Ty situates himself at the second story landing of the house, barking at any unusual sound coming from outside.
“He’s very alert to what is going on,” Minnehan said. “I just want him learn to be a dog and relax and enjoy his time. Ty is so tense, but once you pet him, you can feel him melting. I want to make sure he is spoiled in his retirement.”
