(IN): It's a dog's life

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http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/dec/201208-sniffer-dogs-patrol-entire-city-stre\

ssed-out-post-Mumbai-terror-attacks.htm

It's a dog's life

*By:* J Dey

*Date:* 2008-12-20**

 

*Mumbai:*

 

*After 26/11, city's sniffer dogs are drained and stressed out; 30 dogs

patrol entire city; six land in hospital for stress recovery*

 

In the absence of sophisticated gadgets, the city's Bomb Detection and

Disposal Squads (BDDS) are over dependent on sniffer dogs to be their

guiding light. In fact, the cops use 30 sniffer dogs to patrol the entire

stretch of the city that has a fleeting population of 1.3 crore. To add to

their woes, post 26/11, calls to the BDDS have gone up by 25 per cent,

mostly in South Mumbai. No wonder the dogs are stressed out and drained.

 

Sniffer dogs are subjected to rigorous anti-sabotage checks (ASC) in a bid

to ensure the city is safe. Officials explained that while a policeman's

efficiency is only 15 per cent during an ASC, the dog's success rate while

detecting explosives is around 85 per cent.

 

*Terror threats*

 

" The stress level of police dogs and men from the bomb squad had gone up by

25 per cent in the wake of terror threats. We were stretched to the limits

in the past fortnight,'' said Inspector Eknath Khollam, attached to BDDS.

 

The excessive workload has taken its toll on the police dogs, with nearly

six sniffers currently undergoing treatment at the Veterinary Hospital in

Parel. " Most of them are suffering from stress-related illnesses, " said Dr

Shivaji Talekar, from the hospital.

 

*Obsolete gadgets*

 

The other reason why the dogs are overworked is that the BDDS depends on

obsolete gadgets that are non-operational or have not been replaced due to

lack of funds. In fact, the non-linear junction detector, an instrument used

to detect an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), is rarely used, as its high

frequency could trigger off the IED. Though the X-ray machine has been

recently replaced, most of the other equipment is obsolete, sources

confirmed.

 

 

*A dog a day, keeps the vets busy**Doctors at the Parel animal hospital

confirmed that there is a police dog in the hospital ward almost every day.

The dogs find it difficult to cope with stress if they are made to work for

more than six hours daily. Currently, Rocky, a Labrador, is in the ICU after

a stray dog ripped off his testicles last week. Other sniffers like Heena,

Soni and Sunny all succumbed to their illnesses in the line of duty. Dr

Talekar explained that dogs that are found limping are usually stressed out.

High fever, skin infection, anorexia and dog bites are some of the other

diseases the sniffers are treated for, added Dr Talekar.** **Sniffer's

routine**The regular task of a sniffer dog includes sanitising the airport,

the police commissioner's office and other important government offices, and

sometimes the stock exchange. The dogs are made to sniff the residences of

VVIPs and ministers too.** **Rs 3,000**10 years**Amount spent on the upkeep

of each dog per month (Medicines extra)**Active service life of a police

sniffer dog*

 

 

 

 

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