HOUSTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said a six-year veteran with CBP's Beagle Brigade is retiring from service Friday.

CBP employees at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are bidding a fond farewell and many happy returns to their colleague K-9 Sonny, officials said.

The 9-year-old beagle served alongside his partner for the last six years. Officials said Sonny is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Detector Dog Training Center in Newnan, Georgia.

During the 10-week training, Sonny received specialized training to detect plants and animal products that may be concealed in checked luggage and carry-on items, officials said.

"It is always bittersweet to watch one of your teammates retire," CBP Port Director Charles G. Perez said. "Sonny has had an incredible career with CBP. His partner and the rest of the team will miss seeing him in action."

Officials said Sonny since 2015 has encountered more than 740,000 passengers and was responsible for more than 3,381 seizures of harmful, prohibited or restricted agriculture items.

The Beagle Brigade was established in 1984 when USDA placed a beagle into service at Los Angeles International Airport, officials said. Beagles and beagle mixes are the preferred breed for agriculture K-9 because of their keen sense of smell, non-threatening size, high food drive and gentle disposition.

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