45 sniffers to join Ahmedabad dog squad soon

In the wake of the recent terror threats to the state, Gujarat cops are all set to increase the size of their sniffer dog teams. The state has laid out a plan to recruit 45 more sniffer dogs, in a bid to enhance security.

"We are ready with our plans, and will be issuing tenders for the same. The exercise will also begin within the set time frame. We need 45 dogs of various breeds such as Labrador, German Shepherd and Doberman, among others, for the dog squad team," said police inspector MF Patel, the in-charge of the dog squad training centre at Saijpur in Naroda area.

According to the police, there presently are 110 dogs in sniffer dog teams across the state, whereas the sanctioned number is 155. To meet the shortage, 45 dogs are now being trained by the cops. Out of these 45, four dogs will join the dog squad team of the city.

The dog squad team of Ahmedabad has 10 dogs, while it is entitled to have 14. The new recruits in the squad will be 20 Labrador, 21 German Shepherd and four Doberman dogs.

"Dog squads have become a vital link to culprits during police investigation. The primary leads into crimes such as murder and robbery, usually come from dog squads," added Patel.