(IN): Soon, a dog squad to help firemen in rescue operations

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4849934.cms

 

Soon, a dog squad to help firemen in rescue operations

D Madhavan, TNN 3 August 2009, 01:07am IST

 

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department will soon have a

dog squad to assist rescue workers in fire accidents. Six dogs will shortly

occupy the newly-constructed kennel at the department's Tambaram training

centre. It will be the first among the four regional training centres in the

country the other three are in Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad to have such a

squad.

 

Work on the 4,800 sq ft kennel began more than a month ago by the public

works department (PWD) and only a bathing space and a septic tank need to be

completed. Steel grilles separate each room in the kennel. " Once the PWD

officials hand over the kennel to us, we will fix a date to inaugurate it

formally, " TN Fire & Rescue Services sources told TOI on Sunday.

 

According to the sources, six dogs Dalmatians, Labradors and Doberman

Pinschers will be bought in consultation with experts of the Kennel Club of

India. The dogs will undergo intensive training in relief and rescue

operations and, in emergencies, will be taken to accident spots anywhere in

the state. Firemen trainees, who undergo training at the centre, would also

be given training to handle these dogs in future. " As of now, we will have

the dog squad in Tambaram alone. Later, kennels will be built in Madurai,

Tiruchi and Coimbatore, " sources added.

 

To keep the area cool, a small garden is being developed around the kennel

and 50 saplings have already been brought from the forest department.

Another 100 saplings will be brought later, the sources pointed out. Brass

bells, leather accessories and dogs, the sources pointed out, are considered

part of a fireman's paraphernalia. Sniffer dogs helped locate the dead and

injured after the tsunami struck in December 2004.

 

A separate dog squad for the fire and rescue services was a long-pending

project and the need was particularly felt two years ago after a mishap in

Santhome saw several people being trapped in a building. The project got an

impetus after Director-General of Police and Director of Fire and Rescue

Services R Natraj took it up.

 

The police department, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Central

Industrial Security Force (CISF) are the agencies in the city that have a

separate dog squad. The state police got its dog squad way back in the early

1900s.

 

madhavan.d

 

 

--

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

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[Guest guest]

And when the dogs have completed their " useful " life, they will be

rewarded by being " despatched " by the TNFRS.

 

It took the Blue Cross of India many, many years to get the Police

Department to get their " retired " dogs adopted by people instead of having

them " recalled " by their maker.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4849934.cms

>

> Soon, a dog squad to help firemen in rescue operations

> D Madhavan, TNN 3 August 2009, 01:07am IST

>

> CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department will soon have

> a

> dog squad to assist rescue workers in fire accidents. Six dogs will

> shortly

> occupy the newly-constructed kennel at the department's Tambaram training

> centre. It will be the first among the four regional training centres in

> the

> country the other three are in Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad to have such

> a

> squad.

>

> Work on the 4,800 sq ft kennel began more than a month ago by the public

> works department (PWD) and only a bathing space and a septic tank need to

> be

> completed. Steel grilles separate each room in the kennel. " Once the PWD

> officials hand over the kennel to us, we will fix a date to inaugurate it

> formally, " TN Fire & Rescue Services sources told TOI on Sunday.

>

> According to the sources, six dogs Dalmatians, Labradors and Doberman

> Pinschers will be bought in consultation with experts of the Kennel Club

> of

> India. The dogs will undergo intensive training in relief and rescue

> operations and, in emergencies, will be taken to accident spots anywhere

> in

> the state. Firemen trainees, who undergo training at the centre, would

> also

> be given training to handle these dogs in future. " As of now, we will have

> the dog squad in Tambaram alone. Later, kennels will be built in Madurai,

> Tiruchi and Coimbatore, " sources added.

>

> To keep the area cool, a small garden is being developed around the kennel

> and 50 saplings have already been brought from the forest department.

> Another 100 saplings will be brought later, the sources pointed out. Brass

> bells, leather accessories and dogs, the sources pointed out, are

> considered

> part of a fireman's paraphernalia. Sniffer dogs helped locate the dead and

> injured after the tsunami struck in December 2004.

>

> A separate dog squad for the fire and rescue services was a long-pending

> project and the need was particularly felt two years ago after a mishap in

> Santhome saw several people being trapped in a building. The project got

> an

> impetus after Director-General of Police and Director of Fire and Rescue

> Services R Natraj took it up.

>

> The police department, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Central

> Industrial Security Force (CISF) are the agencies in the city that have a

> separate dog squad. The state police got its dog squad way back in the

> early

> 1900s.

>

> madhavan.d

>

>

> --

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

> http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui

>