The dog squad joins RD parade first time in 26years.

[Levina]

The dog squad joins RD parade first time in 26years.



It is early in the morning inside the Delhi cantonment. The barracks, which house the temporary camps where the marching contingents for the Republic Day parade stay, have a new set of visitors - 24 Labradors, 12 German shepherds, and as many trainers.

Twenty six years after they last marched down the Rajpath, the dog squad from the Army’s Meerut-based Remount and Veterinary Corps centre and college is back.

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The dog squad from the Army’s Meerut-based Remount and Veterinary Corps centre and college is back, 26 years after it last marched down the Rajpath on Republic Day
Over the last four months, the best among the best of Indian Army’s silent, four-legged warriors have been hand-picked and made to practice with their handlers.

“They share the burden of operations, especially when it comes to duties like Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism (CI/CT). So we thought it is time they share the spotlight too,” explained a senior Army officer.

The Army has approximately 1,200 dogs, primarily of the breeds mentioned above and are used in operations like sniffing out explosives, avalanche rescue and CI/CT operations which have facets like assault, guarding and leading.

Unlike the other contingents where selection takes place on the basis of marching prowess of the personnel involved, the parameters here are different.

“We need those men who can keep the dogs fully under control. Since dog behaviour is critical to the success of the show, how well the men march comes second. We have been practising three times a day since the last four months,” said Captain Anurag Boruah from the RVC.

Watch the dogs March here...

| Video | Dog squad prepares for Republic Day parade after 26 years | India Videos | - India Today

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@Abingdonboy @litefire @PARIKRAMA @anant_s
I see an effort to make changes in RD parade, like reducing the time from 2hours to 90mins, and adding new "members".
I think those dogs look super cute. <3

 

[PARIKRAMA]

The canine squad is very capable and does lot of work in Counter Insurgency or Counter terrorism. By including them in RD celebrations, one we are giving them their due respect for the work they do for the nation and second - high threat perception necessitates them to be on the scene for all the actions..

A good and wise move

RD should be made max 90 days.. Better make it crisp 75 Mins.. Too long at times makes it difficult for the chief guest...

 

[Aarush]

yes dogs are cute.... and best friend of men..

Story of a dog who served Indian Army till death.

The Dog's name was Rex.

Rex was a recipient of GOC-in-C Commendation Card for his outstanding & exemplary performance against militants.

The 9A 92 Rex, a golden Labrador was born on 25 February 1993 at RVC Centre & School Meerut. After a year's training, he was posted to 14 Army Dog Unit under Delta Force and assigned the areas adjoining the town of Bhaderwah, to help troops in trailing & tracking militants.

In March 1995, operating with troops of 25 RR in jungles of Badrot, South of Bhaderwah, he tracked a militant injured in an encounter for over 3 km in the thick of militant fire. In a chase that lasted for over four hours, he managed to recover one AK 56 rifles and an haversack containing 92 rounds.

In April 1998, out on a patrol in area Gulgandhar, security forces killed two dreaded militants and badly injured one, who managed to escape. Picking up the scent of his blood, 'Rex' went hot on the trail and moved speedily & stealthily over strenuous undulating mountains. After tracking over 2 km, he succeeded in tracing out the body of the militant in a hideout where he had succumbed to his injuries. Let out on yet another 'trial' with the QRT of CO 25 RR in Daraba near Rajouri, Rex suffered an unfortunate fall and sustained serious intestinal injuries.

He was evacuated to the nearest Army Veterinary Hospital where he developed acute gastroentrities and finally succumbed on 22 September 1999.

do we have our own version of Dickin Medal to honor the animals like in UK ?

Dickin Medal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[anant_s]

see an effort to make changes in RD parade, like reducing the time from 2hours to 90mins, and adding new "members".
I think those dogs look super cute. <3

Yes, the parade seem to wear a new look this year. Besides short is sweet.
I usually look forward to National Bravery Award winning Children, to me that is the best part. Ordinary innocent children showing exemplary courage in face of adversity.
Just think as a civil society, we should think of putting these kids at front of parade. They are our future afterall.

 

[Levina]

e have our own version of Dickin Medal to honor the animals like in UK

I don't think so.
But did you know that dogs and horses which fail to pass one month's duty are disposed of by humane euthanasia?
The reason why these animals are not given for adoption are that these animals are familiar with the base location, it can be perilous if they end up in civilian hands.

Yes, the parade seem to wear a new look this year. Besides short is sweet.
I usually look forward to National Bravery Award winning Children, to me that is the best part. Ordinary innocent children showing exemplary courage in face of adversity.
Just think as a civil society, we should think of putting these kids at front of parade. They are our future afterall.

One of my cousin brother was once nominated for it though he could not make it in the final list. He was 4 years old when he saved another friend of his from drowning(I am sure there were many other deserving candidates ). Kerala government had awarded him though.

 

[halupridol]

@jamahir ye country me kya ho raha hai bhai

 

[Aarush]

But did you know that dogs and horses which fail to pass one month's duty are disposed of by humane euthanasia?
The reason why these animals are not given for adoption are that these animals are familiar with the base location, it can be perilous if they end up in civilian hands.

i am not aware about the killing but its really very sad to kill retired or unfit animals...they are not like military equipments which can be decommisioned from service.

Army should have to take care of them or a strict adoption policy should be in place.

 

[anant_s]

One of my cousin brother was once nominated for it though he could not make it in the final list.

Even getting nominated is a big achievement.
Children usually have a simple mental thought process and often when faced with danger for themselves or their close ones, they seldom think of reward and act in a manner from which adults too should learn, selflessness.

 

[Levina]

Army should have to take care of them or a strict adoption policy should be in place.

I don't think army dogs will ever be put for adoption, reason being
1) security of the base. These dogs are familiar with base's nook and corner.
2) these are highly trained dogs- often for lethal purposes.
3) they are extremely loyal but are independent.
4) they might have been trained differently for various verbal commands.
5) some are extremely aggressive. Such dogs can definitely not be adopted by families with small children.

But yes, it's high time IA stopped using them as surplus equipment. US army has an adoption agency through which such dogs can be adopted.

 

[illusion8]

@jamahir ye country me kya ho raha hai bhai

@jamahir

WTH??

Dogs in the parade?..time for you to pack your bags and head to libya miya.

 

[Aarush]

I don't think army dogs will ever be put for adoption, reason being
1) security of the base. These dogs are familiar with base's nook and corner.
2) these are highly trained dogs- often for lethal purposes.
3) they are extremely loyal but are independent.
4) they might have been trained differently for various verbal commands.
5) some are extremely aggressive. Such dogs can definitely not be adopted by families with small children.

But yes, it's high time IA stopped using them as surplus equipment. US army has an adoption agency through which such dogs can be adopted.

it is good if Army can set up the animal retirement centres ..its very inhuman to kill the animal who served the country and saved the life of thousands.

 

[Levina]

@jamahir ye country me kya ho raha hai bhai

@jamahir

WTH??

Dogs in the parade?..time for you to pack your bags and head to libya miya.

Come on!
Spare him guyz.

 

[Grevion]

I wonder what will be there marching beats.
Those labras and sheps will be a treat to watch.
The govt should also cut down the time of Beating Retreat ceremony.

I don't think so.
But did you know that dogs and horses which fail to pass one month's duty are disposed of by humane euthanasia?
The reason why these animals are not given for adoption are that these animals are familiar with the base location, it can be perilous if they end up in civilian hands.

There were reports last year that the govt is looking for a change in its policy on killing the retired dogs.
Policy on killing retired Army dogs soon: Centre - Times of India
ps- just saw the four sukhoi 30s of the IAF flying in a coordination here. They make their flight from the jodhpur airbase to delhi rajpath to take part in the republic day parade every year.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

• Officials on Thursday said 36 specially-selected German Shepherds and Labradors, along with their handlers, will constitute the Army dog contingent during the January 26 parade, marking a return to the annual event after a gap of 26 years.

• The Army currently has around 1,200 sniffer dogs, which are primarily used for "guard duties, tracking and detection of explosives and mines" during counter-insurgency operations in J&K and the northeast, after being trained in the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College at Meerut.

• The dogs and their trainers have won one Shaurya Chakra, six Sena Medals, 142 COAS commendation cards, six VCOAS commendation cards and 448 GOC-in-C commendation cards over the years.

• The stellar role played by the canines was reinforced last August when Mansi, a four-year-old Labrador, and her Kashmiri master Bashir Ahmed War from the Territorial Army had made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly fighting a group of heavily-armed infiltrators in the high-altitude Tangdhar area along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K.

• The Army had also last year scrapped its "humane euthanasia" policy after it was found that it had "disposed of" almost 2,000 horses, mules and dogs, who had outlived their active service in the force, over a three-year period. While a final policy is yet to be finalized, the Army has stopped the practice of killing of ageing animals, except for those suffering from incurable diseases and injuries.

Army dogs to make a return in Republic Day Parade after 26 years - The Economic Times

 

[Levina]

ust saw the four sukhoi 30s of the IAF flying in a coordination here. They make their flight from the jodhpur airbase to delhi rajpath to take part in the republic day parade every year

Cool!

scrapped its "humane euthanasia" policy

Glad

Off topic:
President's guards at Rajpath for the rehearsal.

I think the shot is awesome.