A new home for ‘police dogs’

Until now, the “pack” of the region slept at the Villanubla base, but now it will do so in the new facilities, which have thirty kennels, some offices and several multipurpose rooms for the unit, as well as outdoor spaces. free in which the dogs finish their training. Sean German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Pointers, Spaniels or Springer SpanielsThe police assure that, although each one excels in something, they train them “in everything”, and proof of this are the wedges to teach them to bite, the handles or the scrapers, which are not far away so that the police can teach them to work together. But basically, “it is their base, where they rest, have water and food.”

In addition, part of the tests with which they prepare these hairy policemen are organized in police stations, on the street, at the Valladolid Fair or at the vehicle depot “so that they get used to the presence of people or many objects,” explains Pedro, one of the dog guides. In fact, their colleagues confirm, dogs in general “are affectionate” and “must be sociable because there are many people in a registry.”

“Work is what unites them the most, it makes them obedient and balanced,” explains Pedro, who points out that each guide usually has two dogs in their charge. “The bond is important because each dog learns based on rewards and some only work to please their master,” he says. “For us they are the most important, but for them we are even more important.“We are the ones who take care of them, teach them and are always there,” he smiles.

In Pedro’s case, the tandem is completed by “Gramo” and his son “Zar”. The puppy’s mother was also trained, but a vision problem kept her away from the service, she says, petting the dog and telling him to sit. ‘Nougat’, ‘Mel’ or ‘Logan’, eager to see what’s happening, move impatiently in their kennels, simple but each with its own terrace.

“I always wanted to have dogs, and since they wouldn’t let me, here I am,” jokes the officer, who says he is part of a particularly professional unit that receives specific training to take care of these animals. “Our greatest satisfaction is your results”, recognize.

At the inauguration, it was precisely the “Tsar” who opened the demonstration of know-how. “Rissi” performed an agility course and “Marty” showed that his homework was done: among several suitcases, he was able to identify the one loaded with explosives.

Bloodhounds ‘to save lives’

The inauguration of this new home was greeted this Friday with a strong police presence, standing at attention and with a chorus of barking. “These dogs are not trained for competitions, they are dogs that save lives,” said the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who stressed the “extraordinary mission” of “this inseparable and formidably effective team” in addition to his own “enthusiasm” to attend, both professionally and personally, due to his “notorious and well-known love of dogs.”

The infrastructure that opens its doors on this occasion is, as he stressed, “small but important.” If in 1945 the First guide dog section in Spain, with eight German shepherds – recalled Grande-Marlaska – currently, this police section has half a thousand dogs. “I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the agents of the autonomous community for having contributed to making Spain one of the safest countries in the world,” he stressed, adding that what “belongs to the ministry” is to provide more personnel and more media. For this reason, he welcomed the fact that Castilla y León now has ten percent more more efficient than in 2018.

Among the authorities present was also the mayor of Valladolid, Jesús Julio Carnero, who thanked the National Police for their work and recalled that he will soon receive the city’s Gold Medal, as a symbol. He also reiterated his “congratulations” to the canine guides. For Carnero, on days like today, dogs demonstrate “man’s best friend and the wicked’s worst enemy.”