NEW DELHI: With summer turning on the heat, Delhi Police’s sniffer dogs will chill out on a 45-day vacation starting May 15. The Crime Branch, which is responsible for the dog squad, has asked districts and all units not to use them during the searing heat of the day except for “heinous” cases. The move comes as dogs can be dehydrated due to extreme heat, leading to life-threatening problems.
The Delhi Police dog squad may not be summoned between 10 am and 5 pm from May 15 to July 31 due to excessive heat except for tracking in important heinous cases,” an internal police communication said.
“Breeds like German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels feel hot in summer. A few years ago we had over 100 dogs, but most died. The 55 dogs we have haven’t adapted to such weather,” said an official of the dog squad.
The dogs will only be used for anti-sabotage checks during VVIP duties.
“We don’t have air-conditioned vehicles for them, unlike other forces,” the official added.
Last year, Delhi Police inducted 30 dogs, including Labradors, German Shepherds, and Cocker Spaniels.