Public outrage bears some result over auctioning of retired police dogs

By Ifham Nizam

The Police Department was planning to get its Kandy Kennel to work with animal welfare activists to improve the quality of life of the dogs retired from the police force, an official told The Island.

The decision was taken after the outrage caused over the auctioning of 25 Police sniffer dogs. Animal rights groups have even written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the matter, he said.

A number of irate animal rights groups wrote to President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and PM’s youngest son Rohitha Rajapaksa urging them to put an end to the practice of auctioning retired police dogs. Most people buy these dogs for breeding purposes, but at the age of retirement, at 10 years, those dogs were senior citizens, activists said.

Last month, the Police Kennels in Asgiriya, Kandy auctioned 25 of their retired service dogs. That was done without checking the ability of the buyers to care for such animals or any follow-ups.

Twenty five pedigree dogs of the Police Kennels, at 10 years of age, with their emerging age-related and genetic disabilities, were auctioned to the highest bidders at an auction on August 15 at the Police Kennels in Asgiriya, Kandy

Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare said last week that they would be willing to contribute if a fund was created by the Police to ensure that the last years of those dogs were spent well.

Champa Fernando, Secretary of the Association told The Island: “These are one-master work dogs and their entire world has been turned upside down. They need to be cared for by the Police. Some people who buy them will use them for breeding, regardless of their age. None of the buyers is screened for anything else other than their money power.”