NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Travelers passing through the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's properties this week can expect to see K-9 teams working to ensure the safety of Thanksgiving travelers -- and snag collectible K-9 trading cards from Port Authority Police Department officers.
“It provides an opportunity to share a little bit of information about the dog, as far as where the dog was born, and how old the dog is, and the type of dog that it is,” said Lt. William Howley, the executive officer of the Special Operations Division, K-9 Unit. “I think the kids especially appreciate that. It gives them a little something to take with them, a keepsake.”
The K-9 trading cards provide interesting facts about each dog, including their birthplace, age, breed, and specializations.
The cards will be distributed at Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, PATH stations, the World Trade Center, and the Midtown Bus Terminal.
The dogs are trained in narcotics or explosives detection, and are an important part of the security measures across the city.
“When you walk into a kitchen you can smell the beef stew and you know that it’s beef stew,” Howley said. “But a dog can actually break that odor down and smell the carrots, the potatoes, and whatever other ingredients are in that stew. That’s how good their smell is.”
The trading cards have a professional headshot of the K-9 on the front and a biography on the back.
The program also honors fallen heroes from the PAPD, with some K-9s named after officers who died on duty, including on 9/11.
The PAPD, joins a host of other agencies across the nation in producing trading cards for their K-9 protection.
According to Howley, these cards are a hit at various industry meet-ups and training sessions, where law enforcement personnel swap them and share insights.
The PAPD K-9 unit is approaching its 40th anniversary in 2024.