Sniffer dogs languish in unhygienic environs

Its summer time and the soaring heat is taking a toll on everyone. Spoorthy, Pinky, Jenny, Aldo and their friends are no exception and they have failed to freshen up for the last three weeks owing to severe water shortage.

Well, this hard-working pack of sniffer dogs in the office of City Security Wing (CSW) are a frustrated lot ever since water woes hit the office considerably forcing them to stay in unhygienic conditions at a nearby dilapidated building. Trainers used to freshen up the sniffer dogs using water pipes periodically, but they are now hardly able to wash the canines after they return from their regular duties. These dogs are forced to stay in untidy conditions as the building in which they were taking shelter is also not washed on a regular basis, sources say. “We groom them and bathe them regularly with water to provide relief from their hectic work. For the past few days, we are unable to do so,” explains a police official. Police personnel say water problem at the CSW office began when a borewell became defunct and none were evincing any interest to repair it.

Despite complaints no action has been taken. Mercifully, however, drinking water is being provided from a nearby water treatment plant for dogs. As of now they are heavily overloaded with work. They hardly get an hour's rest what with repeated alarm calls about abandoned objects being placed just about everywhere. They just have minutes to reach the spot and sanitise the area to sniff out the explosives. This is apart from their regular duties ahead of VVIP visits. “Summer heat is affecting the work of even human beings, one can imagine the plight of these animals,” trainers point out. CSW has strength of 12 three-member bomb disposal squads, each with one dog.

Thirty-two canines – both Labradors and German Shepherds aged between two and nine are catering to the police needs. Trainers fear chances of the dogs getting infected with diseases if environs continue to remain unclean.