St. Louis TSA dog earns spot in Final Four of TSA’s 2026 Cutest Canine Contest

ST. LOUIS - It's a battle of German breeds for TSA's top dog.

Xaro, a 9-year-old German shepherd and an explosives detection canine from St. Louis Lambert International Airport, is in the Final Four of the 2026 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Cutest Canine Contest.

TSA is encouraging the public to help select the agency's working dog most deserving of the title of "cutest canine." Public voting is underway in the semifinals of TSA's 2026 Cutest Canine Contest, and Xaro is trying to dash to the finish line.

Xaro, who celebrated his 9th birthday on Aug. 12, is competing against Bolt, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, in the first semifinal matchup underway today. You can cast your vote between now and Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 11 a.m. CDT on TSA's social media platforms, including Instagram, X and Facebook. TSA is unleashing voting via Instagram Stories, X Poll and Facebook Stories. If Xaro advances, the public can vote for him in the final round of online voting which starts at 11 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and will run for 24 hours.

Xaro has six years of service with TSA, with plans to retire by the end of the year. He loves playtime after work and gets especially excited about his favorite treat.

"Adventure time at the park and beach is a favorite of Xaro," said his partner, TSA Canine Handler Raymond Wu. "He loves playing tug with a ball on a rope, and nothing beats dessert time and his new favorite treats: Three Dog Bakery Lick'n Crunch golden & peanut butter sandwich cookies. After a long day, Xaro enjoys napping in the sun with his head on a pillow."

Two Labrador retrievers go head-to-head in the second bracket of the Cutest Canine Contest semifinals, pitting Epic from Pittsburgh International Airport against Ember from Orlando International Airport. Voting in the second semifinal round will launch at 11 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 18, and run for 24 hours before the finals.

TSA will announce the winner of the 2026 Cutest Canine Contest on Wednesday, Aug. 26, National Dog Day.

TSA uses canines like Xaro in its security operations nationwide, pairing these highly skilled dogs with experienced handlers. They are trained to use their keen sense of smell to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials in busy transportation environments.

Canines are a visible layer of security, supplementing TSA's efforts to keep travelers safe and secure. In addition to working in the nation's airports, they are also trained to work in mass transit, commuter rail and maritime venues.

Here are the links to TSA's social media accounts where you can cast your votes:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tsa
• X: x.com/tsa
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/tsa

"Paws" what you're doing and show your support for Xaro by casting a vote for him today.

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