Dogs could quickly be taking a much bigger chunk out of crime throughout the Asia-Pacific after Hong Kong customs earned a world accreditation to coach canines for work sniffing out contraband across the area. It was a welcome acknowledgement of town’s management within the sector and a mirrored image of the long-standing affection Hongkongers have for his or her animals.
The recognition was granted to Customs and Excise Department kennels on the metropolis’s port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The centre, not too long ago expanded to incorporate an 8,800 sq ft out of doors coaching floor, is one in every of solely 5 World Customs Organisation Regional Dog Training Centres within the area.
Commissioner of Customs and Excise Louise Ho Pui-shan mentioned the centre would organize coaching for organisation members, develop an analysis course of, and assist tailor workshops and seminars for animals in different jurisdictions.
Since its institution in 2018, the ability has educated 27 pairs of dogs and handlers and bred 28 puppies. In November, eight springer spaniels have been born to a customs tobacco detector named Effie, and sired by Twix, a Fire Services Department city search and rescue canine despatched to seek out victims of final yr’s earthquake in Turkey.
Customs has used detector dogs since 1975 and in-house breeding started in 2020. Pups obtain 10 weeks of coaching after they flip a yr old, then build specialised expertise comparable to sniffing out medicine, explosives, firearms, tobacco or money.
Customs kennels also have a mock-up of a container ship to simulate contraband checks at ports.
Hong Kong is a very pet-friendly metropolis, the place some 10 per cent of households personal dogs or cats. However, extra working animals are wanted in regulation enforcement and different roles, comparable to guides for the visually impaired.
There are about 50 information dogs within the metropolis, in response to Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services – nicely wanting the 1,900 the charity says are wanted. But there’s a scarcity of foster households to look after the animals throughout coaching.
Authorities ought to contemplate appeals for an accreditation system to permit extra of them to be taken in by households on non-public estates that at present ban pets.
Meanwhile, it’s good that accreditation of the customs coaching programme helps to present some working dogs their day.
