Gaza police use police dogs for the first time

The Palestinian police in Gaza use six dogs to help combat drug smuggling and help with rescue missions.

Setup in 2012, the special dogs’ unit was expected to have consisted of 16 dogs, however the six being used were purchased for $20,000 and because of the siege, no more could be purchased.

Police spokesman Mohamed Al-Borniya said the dogs helped carry out clampdowns against drug dealers who have started to use new tricks to hide drugs.

Twenty policemen have now been sent abroad to complete training courses in order to run the dogs’ unit. “This is something new for us,” Al-Borniya said.

Speaking to the local Palestinian AlRay news agency, Al-Borniya said the police dogs are used in searching for drugs, guarding VIPs and rescuing people drowning in the sea.

The dogs face many dangers, the spokesman said, including from drug dealers who try to poison them during drug searches. The dogs, however, are trained not to eat any food, “we cater especially for them,” Al-Borniya said.

[widgetkit id=199]