The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : No kennels for GRP sniffer dogs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 15, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

No kennels for GRP sniffer dogs

P. Oppili

Railways unwilling to provide space for canines, says top police officer At the Pananthoppu quarters, the dogs face innumerable problems

CHENNAI: : Two Labrador Retrievers of the Government Railway Police (GRP) Dog Squad, specially trained in identifying explosive substances, are languishing in a cramped place without kennels. Both are housed in a small room in Pananthoppu GRP Quarters, Ayanavaram.

The two sniffer dogs - Dyson, a male aged three and a half, and Shelly, aged three years and nine months, were inducted into the service about two years ago. Soon after the starting of a dog squad, the GRP personnel approached the Railway authorities seeking space for kennels.

A proposal was sent in 2003-04, but it was not considered favourably.

Again, another proposal was sent the next financial year. The Railways rejected it.

In the current financial year, a fresh proposal with modifications was sent with the hope that the canines would get more spacious quarters. This too was rejected, said GRP authorities.

"We need to construct a kennel at a spot which is not too far from the Central and Egmore railway stations. Only then it will be easy to take these canines to Egmore or Central railway stations in case bomb threats arise," says a senior GRP officer.

At the Pananthoppu quarters, the dogs face innumerable problems. The room has little ventilation and mosquitos swarm the area.

As they require a cool environment, the poor unhygienic conditions will affect the health of these pedigree pets, say GRP authorities.

Similarly, water provided to them is also inadequate, they complain. The railways have ample space and can allocate adequate space for a kennel, the authorities say.

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