Maharashtra government To Retain Retired Police Dogs
The state Home Department will bear the expenses of their care after retirement, including food, medical treatment and other daily requirements.
Mumbai: Retirement will no longer mean separation from their handlers for Maharashtra’s police dogs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday that dogs completing 10 years of service with the Maharashtra Police will not be sent out for adoption. Instead, they will continue to remain part of the police force and spend their post-service years with the handlers who have worked with them throughout their careers.
The state Home Department will bear the expenses of their care after retirement, including food, medical treatment and other daily requirements.
The policy seeks to address the difficulties faced by retired police dogs when they are moved to unfamiliar homes or locations. Officials had observed that dogs often struggled to adjust after being separated from their handlers and the environments in which they had spent years working. The disruption could also affect their psychological well-being, with some dogs reportedly refusing to eat after being relocated.
Police dogs play a crucial role in law enforcement. Trained to track suspects, detect explosives and narcotics, find evidence and assist Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads, they work closely with their handlers. Over years of service, the dogs develop a strong familiarity with their handlers’ voices, commands and routines.
Mr Fadnavis said animals that had served the police department loyally for a decade should not be subjected to the distress of being separated from the people and surroundings they know when they retire. “Even though it is a canine, honoring its service and caring for its remaining life is a fundamental responsibility,” he said.
The decision revives a proposal made nearly a decade ago. In 2017, the Mumbai Police had approached the Maharashtra Home Department seeking financial support for retired sniffer dogs. The proposal, referred to as a possible “pension” for police dogs, sought funds to meet their expenses on food, medicines and other necessities after they retired from active duty.
Under the new policy, retirement will therefore mark the end of their operational role, but not their association with the police force — or with the handlers who have been their companions in service.
