Vote: Minnesota dog in the running for cutest TSA pup

Zita, a three-year-old German shorthaired pointer, is in the running for the Transportation Security Administration's Cutest Canine of 2023.

Zita, who works as a bomb-sniffing dog at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, is one of four finalists in the TSA's annual contest. She faces competition from working doggos at airports in Las Vegas, Atlanta and Tampa.

The public was invited to vote on the cutest canines Tuesday on the TSA's profiles on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Zita competed in the first round through Tuesday. If she advances, the public can vote for her again in the final round beginning Wednesday.

TSA will announce the contest winner Monday.

Zita graduated from the TSA's Canine Training Center in November 2022 and was assigned to MSP to replace Eebbers, a vizsla-Labrador mix who retired to Iowa last year after being named 2022's Cutest Canine.

If Zita wins, MSP would be the first airport to boast back-to-back winners in the contest.

TSA officials say these highly trained canines are critical in detecting the scent of explosives and explosive materials. The pooches are paired with handlers to utilize their keen sense of smell when working in a "busy transportation environment," according to a news release. They're also trained to work on public transit and in maritime settings.

TSA has more than 1,000 explosives-detection canine teams deployed nationwide.

This year's other finalists are Dina, a German shorthaired pointer from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas; Zeta, a German shepherd from Tampa International Airport; and Joker-Jordan, a Belgian Malinois from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

On her days off, Zita likes taking naps, spending time in Minnesota's vaunted parks and chasing squirrels, according to the TSA.