| 2024/09/18 |
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Media Statement FREE STATE – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State is urging the public to donate suitable dogs to them to increase the operational K9 capacity in the police. The police in the Free State is in a process to improve the K9 capacity in the province, ensuring sufficient operational capacity for the fight against crime, including crime detection and law enforcement operations, as well as wildlife trafficking. Police dogs are utilised to provide both proactive and reactive services in the SAPS. They are deployed for narcotic detection, explosives detection, protected species detection, biological body fluid detection, currency detection, 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. The following breeds will be accepted by the SAPS: Border Collies, German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, Labradors, Bloodhounds, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthair Pointers and Jack Russells, which adhere to the following requirements: – Between nine months and three years old; – Cross breeds will only be accepted if they meet the SAPS strict organisational requirements; – Confident, energetic and not scared of people or loud noises; – Able to walk on a leash; – Strong and even temperament. 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 K9 Unit – Lieutenant Colonel Smith 0828210195 Welkom K9 Unit – Lieutenant Colonel Nocqado 082 041 3079 An appointment will then be made to assess the dog at the donor’s residence to establish whether the dog is suitable and if the dog is suitable a contract will be signed. Dogs are donated unconditionally to the SAPS. Suitable dogs will be taken to the SAPS’ K9 Academy Roodeplaat where they will be examined by the SAPS’ 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 a patrol or sniffer dog. There is also a need in the Free State for Biological Detection, Fire Detection, Search and Rescue, Patrol, Tracker, Narcotics, Explosives and Protected/Endangered Species Dogs. The extent of generosity and assistance of the public at large will be the key factor to determine the success of this donation drive.
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