Free State police have invited four-legged donations from the public to expand the capacity of its K9 units.

They’re determined to ensure sufficient operational capacity in the fight against crime, including crime detection and law enforcement operations.

“Police dogs are utilised to provide both proactive and reactive services in the SAPS,” said Capt. Loraine Earle, “used for the detection of narcotics, explosives, protected species, biological body fluid, currency, carcass-and-hide detection, as well as the gathering of sheep during stock theft investigations, tracking, and apprehending of dangerous suspects, fire investigation, including search and rescue operations.” 

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The following breeds are being accepted by the SAPS:

• Border Collies
• German Shepherds
• Belgian Shepherds
• Labradors
• Bloodhounds
• Rottweilers
• Golden Retrievers
• German Shorthair Pointers
• Jack Russells

In addition to wanting these dogs for donation, the police will also be looking at the following requirements for the dogs:

• Between nine months and three years old.
• Crossbreeds are allowed but will only be accepted if they meet the police’s organisational requirements.
• Confident, energetic and not scared of people or loud noises
• Able to walk on a leash.
• Strong and even temperament.

“An appointment will then be made to assess the dog at the donor’s residence to establish whether the dog is suitable and if so, a contract will be signed. Dogs are donated unconditionally to the police,” Earle added.

‘They will be subjected to pre-training and assessed by a panel’

Suitable dogs will be taken to the K9 Academy at Roodeplaat, Pretoria, where they will be examined by the police's veterinary services, inoculated, and tagged with a microchip.

They will then be quarantined for 21 days and thereafter be socialised and subjected to a pre-training programme, and assessed by a panel of experts to determine suitability for police K9 training purposes.

Trained dogs will be deployed operationally as either a patrol or sniffer dog. There is also a need in the Free State for dogs to detect biological samples, fires, narcotics, explosives, and protected or endangered species, as well as to assist with patrols, search and rescue, and tracking.

Experts will determine suitability for training purposes. Photo: Facebook

Potential donors can contact the Provincial Emergency and Flash Services: K9 and Mounted Services, Free State, on weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00 at 051 412 6678 or 082 565 9674 or e-mail MalefaneML@saps.gov.za.

The following K9 Units can also be contacted as per the indicated list of authorised K9 Units that can accept dogs as donations:

Bloemfontein: Lt Col Smith 082 821 0195

Welkom: Lt Col Nocqado 082 041 3079

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg