Three new sniffer dogs join CISF, three retire in Chennai

Chennai: Labrador Candy methodically moved across a number of boxes, pausing briefly before alerting her handler to the presence of concealed explosives and narcotics. Beside her, cocker spaniel Rusty calmly refused food offered by a stranger—an obedience drill to prevent distraction or compromise. Moments later, labrador Panther executed a series of commands given by its handler. The display, held at the CISF Pazhavanthangal campus, marked the formal induction of these three newly trained sniffer dogs into the K9 unit of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Aviation Security Group at Chennai International Airport on Monday. The force also bid farewell to three veteran canine warriors—golden retriever Asha, labrador Sweety, and cocker spaniel Max—after eight years of service. Over the years, the retiring K9 members played a vital role in explosive detection, anti-sabotage checks, and VVIP security arrangements at the airport. They were instrumental in screening unattended baggage, suspicious objects, and vehicles during high-profile visits and critical operations.The retiring dogs were felicitated with garlands, medals, and certificates alongside their handlers. The event concluded with a ceremonial send-off for the retiring K9 heroes.