Potential of City’s street dogs – Train strays as sniffers
| Source – Mumbai Mirror – Supriya Thanawala |
| Train strays as sniffers
Animal welfare officer writes to Mumbai police, state govt on tapping potential of city’s street dogs SUPRIYA THANAWALA This is one letter that springs not just from a love of strays, but by a mission to tackle the recent fears bred by terrorist attacks. Major S K Lamba, an honorary animal welfare officer for prevention of cruelty to animals with the Government of India and member of various animal welfare organisations in the city, has written to the police force and state government about harnessing the potential of stray dogs in the city to counter terrorism. Lamba, an ex-army officer, feels the almost 50,000-strong stray dog population in the city could be used to maintain security and protect citizens. They could be trained to sniff out explosives, chemicals, ammunition and illegal drugs. In his letter, Lamba has cited examples of instances where strays had been used in Bihar, Jharkhand, and even naxal-infested areas to protect the police force as well as guard banks in the locality. He believes that if dogs are trained properly, they can instinctively gauge the level of danger. “During my interaction with strays, I have found them to be some of the most intelligent and obedient animals around,” he says. “It is important that even those that are not used for training should be treated well, taken care of and put to good use,” he says. Lamba has sent the letter to the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra RR Patil, the Director General of Police PS Pasricha, General Officer Commanding from the army, Major General Tejinder Singh and also other NGOs that look after stray animals and dogs in the city, including Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD), People for Animals (PFA), People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Plant and Animal Lovers Society (PALS) and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). STRAYS ARE ALREADY ON THE JOB IN SOME STATES Earlier this year, it was reported that stray dogs were being employed by the Bihar police in Paraiya, since they were short of resources and needed protection from Maoists. They were used for patrolling, and police officers would be alerted by their barking. In Jharkhand, stray dogs were being trained to guard banks and post offices.The Union Home Ministry and Bureau of Police Research of Development issued guidelines that banks and post offices should keep licensed guards and dogs for safety. |