Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, the only passenger and cargo terminal in Lebanon, is always filled with travelers and freight.
With such a high volume of daily activity—thousands of passengers and large quantities of goods arriving and departing—the safety of the facility is of utmost importance.
To maintain security, the airport has a significant number of law enforcement personnel. Yet, one of the most effective and often overlooked parts of the security team is the specially trained search dogs.
These clever dogs are responsible for detecting illegal or hazardous items like drugs, explosives, or undeclared cash. Their training enables them to recognize suspicious odors and alert their handlers without barking or causing a scene.
When a dog detects something unusual, it will simply halt and focus its attention on the item in question, prompting its handler to take a closer look.
One day, a trained detection dog was conducting its regular patrols within the cargo terminal.
While travelers may feel inclined to pet these gentle and friendly creatures, it is strictly prohibited as they are working.
As the dog and its handler passed by without being noticed, the dog abruptly stopped in front of a box labeled as coming from Kazakhstan. The package had been at the airport for several days, waiting for further shipment.
The dog froze, staring silently at the box.
The officer was immediately alerted by the dog’s reaction—it was quite rare for these dogs to err. Trusting his partner’s instincts, the handler let the dog approach closer.
To everyone’s surprise, the dog jumped onto the box and showed clear signs of excitement, whining and seeking attention from its handler.
Upon a closer look, the box appeared similar to the others. However, the handler spotted small holes along the sides—possibly air vents.
This unusual finding raised some concerns, prompting the officer to prepare for a more thorough inspection.
Other airport personnel quickly assembled, and the box was carefully lifted and placed on a secure examination table. Due to the potential for explosives, utmost caution was taken.
A bomb disposal team was called in, even though the box had already been checked several times. No chances were taken, and everyone was evacuated from the area except for the search dog, who kept trying to return to the package—behavior that even baffled the seasoned handler.
Once the bomb squad signaled that it was safe, the authorities carefully opened the box.
What they discovered inside was completely shocking.
Amidst the foul-smelling, urine-soaked sawdust lay two small tiger cubs—weak, dirty, and frightened. Their fur was tangled, and insects were crawling around inside the box.
The cubs appeared to be severely malnourished and dehydrated, likely having suffered for days without food, water, or adequate ventilation.
Veterinarians and animal rescue teams were called in right away. The cubs, a male and a female, were later named Tobby and Sophie, and they were taken to a specialized shelter.
Although their chances of survival seemed bleak at first, they slowly began to recover with the right care. Thankfully, they were not separated and stayed together at the shelter.
Further investigations uncovered that the cubs had been illegally sold from a zoo in Kazakhstan. They were part of a litter of five, but the fate of the other three remains unknown.
The director of the zoo was taken into custody and given a long prison sentence due to his participation in the smuggling ring.
Unfortunately, the illegal trade of exotic animals remains a significant issue globally. Nevertheless, this tale concluded on a positive note—thanks to the commitment of a vigilant and devoted service dog who not only discovered the illegal items but also rescued two innocent lives.