THE PHILIPPINE National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group (EOD/K9 Group) yesterday said it has already retired nine of their K9 sniffers from active duty and are calling for interested qualified dog lovers to adopt and bring them to their new homes.

“We are looking for dog lovers including members of the police force who are ready to adopt these Belgian Malinois who have already been retired after years of outstanding service. These wonderful animals are actually now ready for their new homes,” said PNP EOD/K9 group acting director, Colonel Albert G. Magno.

The official said the retired K9 sniffers include three male Explosive Detector Dogs named Conan, Bam and Storm. The three have been trained to detect explosives and other hazardous materials. Conan is a male who has been with the PNP since 2015 while Bam was activated in 2016. Storm served in the force starting March 2020.

The others are ‘Cicek, Strong, Lightning, Al Arab, Al Jamal and Sally’ who are either Narcotics Detection Dog, Combat Tracking Dog, Search-and-Rescue Dog and Patrol, Security and Protection Dog.

‘Strong’ is a male dog who has been under the employ of the PNP since 2018; ‘Cicek’ is a female activated in 2020; ‘Al Arab’ is a female who joined the force in 2019;

‘Al Jamal’ is also a female who was activated in January 2019; ‘Lightning’ is a male who became a member of the force in March 2020; while ‘Sally’ is a female who started working with the police in September 2018.

All nine have serialized microchip number implanted at their dorsal region to serve as an identification and basis as a PNP property.

“For now, we are still waiting for possibilities na sana PNP members din ang mag-adopt sa ating mga aso,” he said. Interested members of the police force as well as civilian dog lovers may contact their licensed veterinarian, Police Staff Sergeant January Garcia thru Globe number 0926-7722271 for more details regarding the dog adoption procedures.

Col. Magno has been designated by PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. as acting director of the PNP EOD/K9 Group which was created last April 22 to provide specialized service such as bomb detection, bomb threat response, bomb disposal and quick response in support to local EOD/K9 units.

The unit also responds to crisis incidents involving explosive materials and conducts an assessment, neutralization and safe disposition of manufactured and improvised explosives including the so-called UXOs or Unexploded Explosive Ordnances, usually World War II vintage powerful bombs.

Col. Magno said their highly-trained Police Service Dogs indeed plays a vital role in law enforcement operation specifically narcotics and explosives detection, search-and-rescue missions and tracking and apprehension of fleeing suspects.

“These Belgian Malinois PSDs are smart, with known high-prey drive and are and obedient dogs. They have also strong protective and territorial instinct, the official said.

High-prey drive dogs are known to take down bad guys, save people, assist the disabled and find bombs and drugs among their many other important jobs.

Col. Magno, a member of PNP Academy Class 1995, said the nine Belgian Malinois have been used in a number of PNP operations including service of search warrants for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2012 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.

The retired police dogs were also previously used in the conduct of PNP checkpoints, Oplan: Greyhound or operations to seize prohibited drugs and weapons hidden inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City and other PNP and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-supervised detention facilities in the country.

The nine were retired from the force following evaluation made by an NDD technical evaluation team. The adoption however will be done on a ‘first-come, first-served basis.’

Interested ‘foster parents’ of the high-breed dogs have to fill out an adoption agreement form and adopter’s application form, all subject to National Police Commission and PNP resolutions concerning the activation of the PNP EOD/K9 Group and Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 as amended by RA 10631 which provided all the guidelines in the administration, deployment, utilization and disposition of PNP working dogs including the sick and retired ones.

The canines also have their own PNP handlers who have undergone training after showing willingness to work and learn and display friendly attitude toward dogs.

Large breeds such as s Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Bloodhounds to include medium/small breeds such as Beagle, and Jack Russell Terriers are highly recommended breeds for police service dog.

These dogs are known for their intelligence, high sense of smell and hearing, balanced temperament, willingness to please, physical agility, and high intensity to work.

The recommended retirement age of K9 service dogs is a maximum of 10-years.

As a rule, retired PNP K9 dogs may also be adopted by charitable institution as prescribed by the Commission on Audit.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon