<![CDATA[As the Delhi Metro rail expands, a section of the Pink Line was thrown open to the public on March 14, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of the Metro rail network’s security, has also expanded the strength of its dog squad. For phase III of the Metro, eight more sniffer dogs, all female Labradors, have been inducted into the force to help personnel protect vital installations. With this, the number of canines in the CISF dog squad has gone up to 60 — 31 Labradors, 17 German shepherds, 10 Cocker spaniels and two golden retrievers. Constable Mr.P.V. Shinde, the handler of Jojo, a female Labrador, told that all dogs in the squad start their day at 7 a.m. every day. They are first taken on a walk so they can relieve themselves, then they get an hour-long physical training session with their handlers, and then they come back and start their workday. An official from the CISF dog squad told that their meal contains bread, boiled eggs, cod-liver oil, boiled meat and vegetables. Each dog has one handler who has at least two months’ basic training on how to handle dogs. Handlers also get training. The handlers then take the dogs to the Metro stations and trains for their four-hour shifts. A senior official told that the dogs sniff out explosives and prevent potentially catastrophic attacks in the Metro. While on duty, the handler keeps a water bottle and food for the canine in his back-pack. The CISF’s dogs are deployed at eight strategic locations on the Delhi Metro so they can sweep the maximum area.]]>
