Force trains up stray dogs as drug-busters
Last year, the Force teamed up with Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to select suitable ones from abandoned dogs and train them up to join the ranks of police dogs. This initiative enables the Force not only to cut the cost of breeding its own dogs, but also set an example of care and love for animals, as well as respect for life.
Stray dogs turn drug-sniffing dogs
According to Police Dog Unit Station Sergeant (SSGT) Chin Chi-on, someone pointed out during a conversation that the Force would incur some costs in breeding police dogs because breeds purchased from other countries were not cheap and the chance of getting donations was few and far between. At the same time, a vet attached to the Force also pointed out that the breeds of some of the abandoned dogs collected by AFCD were similar to those of police dogs. As a result of these observations, Police Dog Unit later selected six Labradors for training as a Passive Alert Dog (PAD).
SSGT Chin says that as a PAD often comes into contact with people, dogs with an intimidating outlook and "stature" are out of question, and the active and docile Labrador is more suitable. However, it must be under three years old, healthy, capable and obedient. Right now, three stray dogs - male "Barry" and "Dave" and female "Toby" - have completed training and joined the fight against drugs, while another three were found unsuitable during training.
Officers devoted
to training
Training of a PAD takes eight weeks. "Passive" means that if a PAD sniffs out drugs on a person, it will just sit in front of the person instead of barking or attacking, giving the person no big scare.
According to SSGT Chin, there are no big differences between the training for a stray dog and a police dog. A stray dog has to be "re-educated" because it used to wander, scavenge for food and fight on the streets. Moreover, as it is more wary of people and more defensive, officers have to gain its trust by showing more care and love.
Police Constable (PC) Hang Foo-wing of Police Dog Unit points out that stray dogs have their own advantages. A rookie police dog does not know how to ride on an escalator, is reluctant to enter a lift and scared of the fast-moving cars on the roads. However, stray dogs do not have such problems.
Speedy detection
The present PAD Team has 16 "members". Twelve of them have been posted to different Emergency Units, and the other four are led by Police Dog Unit SSGT Cheung Chun-wah to back up frontline units round the clock in three shifts, such as Border District, Railway District, Marine Region, Narcotics Bureau and Traffic. Their participation in the fight against drugs has boosted the efficiency of busting drugs by reducing the time of locating hidden drugs from 20 to 30 minutes to as short as less than five minutes.
Police Dog Handler, PC Leung Wai-man, is proud of "Barry" pulling off his first arrest shortly after completing training. Taking part in an Emergency Unit New Territories North operation, "Barry" managed to sniff out drugs hidden in a car in a matter of one minute, leading to the arrest of a suspect.
Noting that PAD speeds up drug searches and leaves criminals no chance, SSGT Cheung says: "Criminals would hide drugs in inconceivable places, such as HiFi equipment or car doors. Under such circumstances, a PAD plays a useful role because officers can't dismantle the car."
Another Police Dog Handler, PC Law Kwok-wah, recalls that while patrolling in a park with "Dave", he spotted a woman acting suspiciously. As it was indiscreet for him to make body search, "Dave" came to his assistance and sat in front of her. A woman officer later arrived but found nothing on the woman. "I've absolute confidence in my partner, so the woman was taken to police station, where drugs were found in her underpants."
Meaningful
adoption plan
In training stray dogs, Dog Handlers have to find out their mindset, with affection being nurtured gradually during this process. PC Leung points out that "Barry" is active and kind-hearted and acts fast. Being "too impatient", "Barry" was impulsive on finding drugs during training. Therefore he had to train "Barry" how to calm down.
For PC Law, "Dave" is very stubborn sometimes. Once he lost his temper when pushed into a cage and PC Law had to coax him with some games. Handling a female police dog for the first time, PC Hang describes "Toby" as lovable.
All the three Police Dog Handlers find the plan of adopting stray dogs very meaningful. "Besides maintaining law and order and fighting drugs, we have another mission and that is to educate the public on care and respect for animals."
Adoption of
police dogs
Pursuing the concept of care and respect for animals, the Force makes dogs that failed in training, including the three above-mentioned stray dogs, and retired police dogs available for adoption by the general public. For those that cannot find a home, the Force will look after them for the rest of their life.
Those interested in the adoption plan may contact Police Dog Unit on http: //www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/11_useful_info/pdu/adoption.html
(Editor's note: The Force now has 75 patrol dogs, belonging to the German Shepherd and the Malinois breeds. The Force is trying to enhance their value by training them up as drug-sniffing dogs. At present, 16 police dogs are performing the dual function of patrolling and fighting drugs.)
(From left, front row) PC Leung, PC Law, PC Hang and
their dogs "Barry", "Dave" and "Toby" and Station Sergeants Chin Chi-on
(left, back row) and Cheung Chun-wah
"Barry"
learns how to differentiate drugs 
"Toby" learns how to check out luggage 
"Dave" will sit in front of a person if he sniffs out
drugs on the person
Police dogs are always kept at top form for their jobs