After nine years of service in the Coimbatore bomb squad, sniffer dog, Mehala, died on Thurday
Coimbatore city police paid tribute to the sniffer dog Mehala at Coimbatore city police commissioner office on Friday. (Photo: DC/File)
Coimbatore:When the Coimbatore police received bomb threat calls, Mehala would perk up and land there to ensure the safety of Coimbatore residents. On Friday, however, there was no ‘explosive’ call and ever-alert Mehala lay motionless. After nine years of service in the Coimbatore bomb squad, sniffer dog, Mehala, died on Thurday afternoon.
She was buried at the rear of the commissionerate complex on Friday and senior police officers attended the funeral. The white Labrador was roped into the dog squad on March 3, 2000, just two years after serial bombs ripped through tranquil Coimbatore city.
Since then, for the next nine years, Mehala was on her toes, sniffing any explosive materials planted in the communally-sensitive city. During the visit of VVIPs, political rallies and important events, Mehala bounded around the venues tirelessly. “She has attended 1,028 calls to sniff out explosives,” said a police officer.
She brought glory to the Coimbatore dog squad, winning 20 prizes and medals with her razor-sharp alertness and sniffing skills. After nine years of service, Mehala was retired in October 2009 and was a pensioner dog till she breathed her last on Thursday afternoon. She spent her five-year retirement life at the shelters of the dog squad under the pensioner scheme provided by the state government.
The dog lived a total of 14 years and expired on Thursday afternoon due to illness, said dog squad team officials.
( Source : dc )
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