ARTICLE - THE DOGS OF WAR

They have a sense of smell that is 45 times better. A hearing that is 20 times so; not to forget a sixth sense, speed, stamina, ferocity, night vision and even arcane qualities like faithfulness … They would have beaten us hollow if there was a competition of sorts and yet most of them have resigned to living a dog’s life .The only problem is that they speak in a “woof” language that that doesn’t quite match the ‘weft’ of our life. We can’t stand even the top dog barking at us to get his point.

So did they lose their bite to their bark? The most memorable of them having found a place for themselves in the animated world where they can speak their mind you would think. The loveable troublemaker, Great Dane Marmaduke, the self inflated Beagle atop his doghouse Snoopy, and famous reporter tintin’s assistant Snowy- They are not mere gags though. They are clever canines who make no bones of the human follies all around them.

The most common image of a dog is perhaps the one imprinted by HMV’s logo- “His Master’s voice”- that of a dog sitting respectfully listening to his master’s voice springing out from the gramophone speaker. A quality that have endeared them to the vain humans for as long as one can remember, who actually lap up every bit of their pets’ unconditional love and affection.


There are still others who we know exist, but we read about very rarely. They do not have the time to be groomed in pretty ribbons and frills. They follow a serious profession and work tirelessly to achieve a certain regimen. There are those who help the blind- those who detect narcotic in the customs- and those who have made an enviable place for themselves as ancillary weapons in aid of national security. This last bunch is perhaps the grittiest of the lot and deserves a special mention.

Apart from trackers and retrievers they are employed as Infantry Patrollers, Guards, Explosive Sniffers, Mine detectives and Avalanche Rescuers in the Security Forces - That is Army, Air Force, the Special Frontier Force (SFF), National Security Guards (NSG) and Border Security Force (BSF Tekanpur, Gwalior). The Army, Remount and Veterinary Corps Center at Meerut has approximately 500 dogs undergoing basic and advanced training (and for exclusive breeding) at any given time who are sent out to the 30 odd operational units across the length and breath of the country .

Few of us know how the tough training at times adversely affects their lives. “A sniffer dog may lose its life by a couple of years if he is in active service”, says Major Ravi, OC Dog Unit, NSG. Similarly an avalanche rescue job which is a taxing task exposes them to extreme cold conditions and many health hazards, besides consuming a great deal of their energy .

Their achievement list is a carefully maintained anecdotal record that is as heart rending as the stories of any other war heroes. The expertise extends from marshes, swamps, paddy fields to mountains, rocky terrains, even deserts and snow. Their adventures speak of great courage and faithfulness. Let me quote a few instances. After an encounter with foreign mercenaries on 26th may 96, SC Sharma and tracker dog, Neera, a Labrador, were employed to search fleeing infiltrators. The scent of a wristwatch and AK-47 magazine was given to the dog which led through rugged and mountainous terrain to a place from where the dog slipped and fell badly injuring herself. Within 20 to 30 meters however, the search party recovered substantial cache of arms and ammunition. In a similar situation Doberman Ramman acted quickly in face of an explosive that burst unexpectedly. Ramman died on spot but he managed to save his handler just in time. Normally their sensitivity to sound would leave a dog paralysed. It takes a lot to continue detection or search operation through deafening noise all around. But they do. They are creatures of strict discipline who are not known to have to shown any sign of cowardice ever. They don’t defect and certainly don’t run away from responsibilities with their proverbial tail behind them.

Perhaps it is rightly claimed then that only the Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces have been able to exploit their potential to the fullest. After an initial obedience training they are selected for various special tasks .They have been trained and used for the purposes ranging from riot control to narcotic and drug detection and as an aid to anti hijacking and commando raids, in addition to their traditional roles. No other outfit has acknowledged their contribution to the society so boldly either.

When you look at their BILL of RIGHTS which is an impressive document it becomes clear that they are recognised as no ordinary mutt, “I should not be allowed to retrieve sticks and stone. I should not be allowed to go rabbiting or chasing games.” Their requisites are laid out in no uncertain terms. “I should be respected and worked with affection and not just rigid discipline”. They cannot be taken for granted. “I should be allowed to rest and relax at off –duty”. Their contribution is valued but they cannot be overexploited, “I want to be considered as one in the ARMY for I will give my life to the nation”. Their commitment is no less than an average soldier.

Of course there are intelligent dogs and the not so intelligent ones. Performances may differ but incase of service dogs the bottom line is very clear “Nervous excitable dogs needn’t apply.” For the ones who deserve the kudos however their dogged dedication earns them no less than the prestigious Army Commander’s Commendation Cards, for their outstanding contribution to national security.” They say every dog has his day. I feel proud, service dogs certainly do.