Mumbai: Police dogs in Maharashtra will no longer have to leave their handlers and police units once their years of active service come to an end. The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government has decided that retired police canines can continue living with the force after retirement.
The decision marks a departure from the existing practice of putting retired police dogs up for adoption after they complete their service.
Under the current rules, police dogs are retired from active duty after 10 years of service. The new arrangement will allow them to remain with the police establishment and, importantly, stay close to the handlers with whom they have spent years working.
Why Did Maharashtra Change Police Dog Retirement Rules?
The decision was taken amid concerns about the impact of relocation on trained police dogs after retirement.
Government sources said shifting the animals to unfamiliar homes after years of living and working alongside their handlers could affect their well-being. Some retired canines were reportedly seen refusing food after being separated from their familiar surroundings.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said animals that spend a decade serving the police should not have to suffer once their active duties are over.
“We must care for the canines who serve us and must allow them to spend the rest of their lives comfortably,” Fadnavis said.
Retired Police Dogs To Remain With Their Handlers
Under the revised policy, a police dog will still formally retire from operational duties after completing 10 years of service. Retirement, however, will no longer necessarily mean separation from the police unit or handler.
The canines will be allowed to spend their remaining years within the environment they are familiar with, helping preserve the bond developed between the dogs and their handlers during years of training and service.
The move is intended to give retired animals greater stability instead of requiring them to adjust to an entirely new home and caregiver late in their lives.
Maharashtra Home Department To Bear Expenses
The Maharashtra Home Department will take responsibility for expenses associated with caring for retired police dogs.
This will include their food and other necessary requirements after they are withdrawn from active service, ensuring that their upkeep does not become a financial burden on individual handlers.
Police dogs are trained for demanding duties ranging from detecting explosives and narcotics to tracking suspects and assisting personnel during security operations. Their work also requires them to build close coordination with their designated handlers.
The Maharashtra government’s latest decision recognises that relationship by allowing the animals to remain in familiar surroundings even after their operational careers have ended.
