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Dogging movements of culprits
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A dog's life in the squad is approximately 14 to 15 years. These dogs are later auctioned after the vet doctor certifies about their fitness.
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A sniffer dog in action at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
FROM TIME immemorial dogs have been the best friend and pet of human beings. Recent researches in the caves in uninhabited parts of the world have proved this. This has also reflected in many fictions with the hero having a clever and a `powerful' dog.
Their extraordinary `sniffing' has earned them the pride of being a special squad in the police department. The dogs are trained as trackers or sniffers.
Trackers are those used to locate criminals and sniffers are meant for finding out hidden explosive and narcotic substances.
The dog squad of the Madurai police functions under the control of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) assisted by a Sub-Inspector and right now, it has four dogs.
Three of them are sniffers (two for explosive substances and one for narcotic substances) and a tracker.
To train these dogs, there are about 10 personnel. One of the personnel recently completed his training in Madhya Pradesh and two others in Chennai.
The trainers say, "besides obeying the Government Order most of us come to this squad out of willingness only which helps us display a good show".
These personnel are administered antibiotics once in six months as a precautionary measure.
Every dog is sanctioned Rs 54 per day for food and medical expenses. In the morning, they are fed with roti, egg, milk and some medicines. Half a kg beef is given in the afternoon and soup and milk at night.
During the training they are given biscuits to boost their energy.
A doctor from the Madurai Veterinary College Hospital regularly checks these dogs and certifies about their fitness.
Regarding selection, they say, "only three breeds, Labarador, German Shepherd and Dobberman, are chosen for the police squad and that too when they are young".
Apart from their breed speciality, the Kennel Club of India certificate is a must. The history of the parents is also taken into account and their vision, sniffing and hearing capabilities are also tested up to a distance of 5 feet, the personnel say, adding, "the veterinary doctor will also have to certify about its health".
The maximum rate offered by the Government to purchase a dog is Rs 6000.
These small ones after selection will be given vigorous training for three to six months and once they reach the adult stage training session extends upto three hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. In the day they are groomed regularly.
The dog squad will be summoned through the Armed Reserve wing in case of necessity and provided a vehicle to reach the spot.
Robert, which was part of the Madurai squad till recently, recovered a bomb placed near Fathima College in the City, the personnel say citing the instance of the squad's achievement. Similarly, the trackers played a vital role in several cases to locate culprits, they say.
"A dog's life in the squad is approximately 14 to 15 years. These dogs are later auctioned after the vet doctor certifies about their fitness. The opinion and permission of the Commissioner of Police is also sought in this regard", they say.
"Though the minimum rate is approximately Rs 3000, mostly the rates cross the Rs 5000-mark because the master gets the pride of owning a police dog", concluded the personnel.
M R ARAVINDAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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