TSA Using Bomb Dogs to Search Passengers & Speed Up Security Process

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is using man's best friend to screen passengers at certain airports. The agency will start using bomb sniffing dogs as passengers go through security checkpoints as they say it is a quicker method.

According to CBS Denver, the TSA started using the new technique at Denver International Airport during a test on Friday. The TSA is expected to use canines to pre-screen passengers and if they pass they may be able to go through an expedited security line," the agency said. They call the dogs a "mobile form of explosive detection" which is "extremely accurate.

The new furry tool will be beneficial to passengers and TSA agents as travelers won't have to waste time removing their shoes, emptying their bags or going through an intense pat down.

"What are we looking for? We're looking for things that go boom. The dog takes care of that very, very effectively, and the rest of this is finding pointy objects," aviation expert Mike Boyd told CBS local. "Well the only reason we take off our shoes and do all that over stuff is because the other machinery really doesn't know how to look at it. So this makes a lot of sense for everybody," he added.

The use of security dogs is being done at random at certain parts of certain airports, so not everyone will get the doggy search. In addition to Denver, it is being piloted in Honolulu, Indianapolis and Tampa. Passengers say they would be open to it.

"I'd be wiling to do something like that if it made me get through faster," a passenger told CBS Denver.

Many travelers and groups have called the TSA out on their intrusive scanning methods and patdowns. Some feel that the TSA is abusive in its patdowns. There have been several instances of children, elderly, severely ill and disabled passengers being mistreated by the TSA. They have also been accused of stealing from passengers, harassing them about drinks they bought inside the airport and even telling passengers to freeze in place as they walk throughout the airport. Since 2009, the TSA had received more than 17,000 formal complaints against patdowns.