In the Vitebsk region, 71 crimes have been solved with the participation of service dogs since the beginning of the year

August 26, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. 160 dogs are on duty in the units of the regional department of the Department of Protection in the Vitebsk region, the head of the service dog kennel of the Vitebsk regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department of Protection of Belarus, Nikolai Lukyanenko, told a BELTA correspondent.

Police officers have focused on German Shepherds, which, according to the source, are the smartest and most suitable for security work. Dogs serve in detention groups, guard the territories of facilities, and dog handlers with their pets are part of the groups patrolling the streets. Since the beginning of the year alone, 71 crimes have been solved with the participation of service dogs, and 28 attempts to penetrate guarded areas have been suppressed with the detention of offenders.

Like police officers, the service of four-legged guards is both dangerous and difficult. For example, last year in Vitebsk, an armed criminal who committed a robbery attack on a store was detained thanks to a service dog. The dog performed its task so successfully that the robber could not even use his weapon. There are also amusing cases, such as the recent detention of a negligent schoolboy who wanted to cancel a test and reported that the school was allegedly mined. Having established that the call came from a payphone, a group with a dog was dispatched to the scene. The shepherd dog picked up the boy's trail by scent and led the police directly to his apartment.

According to Nikolai Lukyanenko, dogs reach conscription age at three months. From the kennel, they are transferred to a dog handler who is engaged in the upbringing and training of the puppy. In the future, they will have to serve together. An individual training plan is developed for each conscript puppy with monthly exams. The training program necessarily includes a obedience course, tracking, physical training - overcoming an obstacle course - and lessons on detaining and restraining offenders.

Just as every employee has a personal file, a cumulative file is opened for dogs, with a photograph of the dog being mandatory. The dog's "personal" file contains a description, health records, and all achievements of the four-legged employee are entered into the file. Dogs can retire after reaching the age of 8. However, if their strength and health permit, no one will dismiss them from service. Even 12-year-old veterans successfully perform combat missions. According to Nikolai Lukyanenko, retired dogs do not remain alone. As a rule, employees themselves take them home, because a well-behaved, intelligent dog is truly man's best friend.-0-