Latest news with #policedogs
Khaleej Times
16 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Meet UAE's dog whisperer who trains elite canines for search, rescue, security
What began as a personal bond with dogs became a life-changing mission for Mohammad Anwar. He turned his deep love for animals into pioneering domestic dog training, becoming the first Emirati project specialising in producing police dogs trained for all needs. At just 11, Anwar developed a deep bond with dogs, which started by feeding strays leftovers from home. 'I used to care for street dogs,' he said. 'It became such a big part of my life that school started slipping.' Concerned, his father made a deal: if Anwar improved in school, he would be rewarded with a dog. Anwar kept his promise and had his first dog, a German Shepherd. But his next dog, Caesar, truly changed his life. 'Caesar was like my shadow,' Anwar recalled. 'He stayed with me for nearly six years.' Their bond was tested after a football match when Anwar was attacked. As others ran, Caesar broke free and rushed to protect him. 'He started licking the blood off my face, letting out a sound like he was crying,' he said. 'He was the only one who came back for me.' That moment sparked a mission: 'I realised nothing is more loyal than a dog.' Determined to deepen his knowledge, Anwar taught himself dog behaviour through YouTube before enrolling in specialised courses in the Netherlands. The training helped him understand the importance of both positive and negative reinforcement, as well as how to stay calm and responsive while working with animals. 'Knowing when to be calm and how to respond correctly makes all the difference in earning a dog's trust,' he said. By 2015, the idea for a specialised dog training centre took root. Two years later, in 2017, he officially launched the project. Today, Anwar's facility breeds and trains dogs for various professional roles, including search and rescue, narcotics detection, criminal investigations, and protection of critical infrastructure. The centre houses up to 46 highly trained dogs at any given time. 'We've reached a stage where we're exporting trained dogs to countries like the US, UK, Switzerland, and across the Arab world,' Anwar said. Government agencies now rely on his dogs, and his team also runs specialised training programmes for security personnel. But the journey has not been without challenges. Relocating his training centre multiple times across the Emirates has been one of Anwar's biggest hurdles. 'Each move meant starting over financially,' he said. The shift from Sharjah to Umm Al Quwain was particularly tough due to a lack of income. 'I put everything I had into it,' he recalled. In 2022, he moved again to Ras Al Khaimah, where he finally found the needed space and support. 'I hoped to stay at least ten years to settle and repay my debts.' During those tough times, one of Anwar's dogs, Boo, who was kept for emotional support, played a crucial role. 'When I was overwhelmed, he'd do silly things to make me laugh. He could sense my stress and helped me feel grounded,' he said. Anwar's resilience and dedication have not gone unnoticed. He has won over 23 titles in international dog competitions, taking top-spot trophies in prestigious shows in the UAE and Russia. In 2022, his team achieved a significant milestone by winning first place in the KNPV (Royal Dutch Police Dog Sport) championship in the Netherlands, one of the most respected competitions in police dog training. Currently, his centre produces around 25 to 30 high-performance dogs annually. His next target is to increase that number to 70 per year. 'The more the world sees our quality, the more they want. But quality can't be rushed,' he said. Anwar is quick to credit his team for the centre's success. 'I couldn't have done this alone. Their dedication has been important to this journey.' Looking ahead, 'In five years, I want this to be the largest dog training centre in the Middle East. After that, one that will be the top source globally,' he noted.
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Essex police dog helper among those honoured by King
A woman who helps give retired police dogs a new lease of life has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours."It was a shock, and it's an honour and it's thrilling," said Linda Belgrove, who set up Essex Retired Police Dogs 70-year-old former vice chair of Essex Police Authority, from Alresford near Colchester, has become a MBE for services to far she and her husband have raise £94,000 and helped 48 dogs with veterinary care and welfare. Ms Belgrove said she realised during her previous role in 2008 that there was no plan for police dogs after their homed the dogs would also be solely responsible for vet bills, which would often be more substantial due to the demands of their previous Belgrove said she roped in her "poor husband" and launched the charity in 2012."There's a surety that help is on hand, and that we will support them [the dogs]," she said."What we've realised is the 'charity' way of looking after these dogs is the best way."In having your independence from policing and from government, you have the right to say, 'This dog may be 12 years old but it's got every likelihood of living another couple of years. Whatever treatment that dog may need, we're going to pay it.'"We've never failed a dog."In 2020, she also co-ordinated a national front for such charities in the form of the Association of Retired Police Dog Charities (ARPDC)."We all operate in a different way, we're all independent, but there's a great friendship amongst us," she said. 'Hugely privileged' Elsewhere in Essex, Paul Wilkinson, 59, of Langford near Maldon, was appointed MBE for services to young people, after spending more than 40 years in the youth sector - largely with the he engaged with almost 1,000 children from hard-to-reach backgrounds as part of an "on the water" programme with the Sea ran thousands of free watersport activities, achieving 132 recognised qualifications for participants along the way. Despite his achievements, Mr Wilkinson was shocked at the news from the palace."I was hugely privileged and very surprised, and I have to say I couldn't do what I do - and have the impact I have - without hundreds of volunteers and employees who support everything we do."Mr Wilkinson said many children were too nervous to take part when they first joined, but he relished watching them develop their about his proudest moment, he said he taught a young Muslim girl from Birmingham who had never been on the water."At one stage she was hiding behind the car... because she simply didn't want to come out and get involved."By the end of the activity, she had her buoyancy aid on, she was out in a canoe, really, really loving it and having the time of her life - and she then came back the following day."And that's just one tiny little example of one tiny event." Other people from Essex who have been honoured by the King include:Jeff Pope, of Brentwood, writer, director and producer - MBE for services to dramaPaul Cotgrove, of Benfleet - BEM for services to film and British film heritageDeta Hedman, of Witham - OBE for services to darts and to charityRebekah Iyambo, of Buckhurst Hill, chief executive at Eko Trust - OBE for services to educationAlex Boucher, of Colchester, founder and managing director at Analog - MBE for services to the gaming industry and entrepreneurship Frederick Hudson, of Waltham Abbey - MBE for services to the Arsenal Football Club communityOwase Jeelani, of Loughton, professor of paediatric neurosurgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital - MBE for services to neurosurgery and global child healthReverend Brian Jennings, of Frinton-on-Sea - BEM for services to the community in Walton-on-the-NazeSusan Mapp, of Harlow, special educational needs and disability co-educator at Cooks Spinney Primary Academy - BEM for services to Special Educational Needs Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Behind the Story: It's not all licks and treats with Treasure Coast's law enforcement K-9s
Breaking News Reporter Corey Arwood spent time at each of the three sheriff's offices on the Treasure Coast with their K-9 Units. He watched the training process in some specially-made facilities and learned about some new developments in K-9 protection. One of those developments is that several sheriffs offices and police departments have upgraded use of technology for their K-9 Units with an app to help them analyze performance better than before. Why was this an important local story to report? Everyone loves the cute, obedient police dogs sometimes seen around the Treasure Coast in their bullet-proof dog vests. But do you really know how they can protect you? Did you know there's at least 55 of them working to keep you safe? We take you on a tour of upgraded facilities where the working dogs learn their trades, show you the dogs in action with their trainers, and give you an idea of a law enforcement dog's daily schedule. We explain a change in record keeping at some K-9 units on the Treasure Coast that offers a previously unavailable detailed view of the results of dog deployments. These dogs are considered 'less-lethal uses of force.' Their discoveries of weapons or narcotics, for example, could lead to decades of jail time for someone in a traffic stop, or to the tracking and rescue of a missing person. What surprised you about this story? Not all law enforcement agencies on the Treasure Coast are using technology to keep track of and analyze what their K-9 dogs and handlers are doing. Some agencies use more traditional reporting methods like a combination of incident details documented through their dispatch system, and training records kept on paper in binders. That's been described as a 'data silo' where records are stored independently and remain disconnected without correlation or analysis. So any time an officer wants to identify the amount of cocaine collected in a month or the number of people bit last year, for example, they have to go through records of dispatch notes and collect and calculate the results. Was there anything you couldn't answer when reporting this story? The developers of the service in use at two sheriff's offices did not respond to calls or voicemails seeking information and comment. As with some other data retrieval and storage systems, questions remain about who maintains ownership of that data and for what purposes can it be used or shared during or after discontinuation of the service. Condominiums: Condo inspection reports reveal substantial structural deterioration across Treasure Coast At the ocean: Treasure Coast lifeguards become more proactive Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Behind the Story: Breaking news reporter gets low-down on K-9 law enforcement
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Swindon family join campaign for pensions for police dogs
The owners of a retired police dog are supporting a national campaign for the animals to be given pensions by the Collins and her husband, a Ministry of Defence Police dog handler, adopted German Shepherd Donna when she retired suddenly at the age of five on medical now seven, has a number of health conditions and the family say it is unfair that animals face being put down if their adoptive families cannot afford the Thin Blue Paw Foundation launched a petition on Thursday calling for ex-service dogs to receive a pension, but the Home Office says there are currently no plans to change the retirement process for service animals. Donna primarily patrolled atomic weapons sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, but would often be called upon to track down suspects or vulnerable missing Collins, from Swindon, told the BBC there was "no question" that they would adopt Donna when she retired as she was "already a member of the family", but they have struggled with the cost of her vets Shepherds as a breed or prone to a range of muscular skeletal conditions, and ex-police service dogs can be even harder to insure due to the extra toll their working lives takes on their addition, many have been trained for "bite work" in response to a command or a specific threat, which is seen as an added risk for insurers. Donna's medication costs around £300 every two months and her family have sometimes needed support from the Thin Blue Paw Foundation to cover the Collins said: "It's a big responsibility to take ex-police dogs on but they are fantastic dogs.""These dogs are willing to give us everything. They will do everything that is needed and required of them," she said. "For them to give most of their lives, why do they not get some kind of financial support like a pension to take care of them in their old age? I don't think it's very fair."The Home Office told the BBC service animals were managed by individual police forces who rely on charities and volunteers, and there were currently no plans to change the retirement process.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Charity asks government to fund retired police dogs' costly care
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation is appealing to the Government to provide pensions for retired police dogs to alleviate the financial burden on handlers and owners. Since August 2020, the foundation has distributed £380,000 in grants for veterinary expenses, addressing health issues stemming from the dogs' demanding work. Foundation chairman Kieran Stanbridge argues the Home Office has a moral obligation to support these dogs in retirement, given their service and sacrifice. The foundation has launched a petition to push the Government for a ring-fenced budget to support owners of retired police dogs. There are about 1,700 serving police dogs in the UK and about 100 retire each year.
