US Prez’s sniffer dogs to fly in to five-star facilities

Every dog has its day, they say, and the US Secret Service’s dogs will get theirs during US President Barack Obama’s India visit. Karan Choudhury reports

Every dog has its day, they say, and the US Secret Service’s dogs will get theirs during US President Barack Obama’s India visit.

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Come Sunday, a pack of 30 sniffer dogs will be flying in to five-star treatment. The United States Secret Service is flying in with 30 of their best-trained sniffer dogs to the country to sweep the areas for Obama’s visit.

These dogs are expected to stay at the best five-star hotels across the city, including ITC Maurya.

According to senior security officers, the sniffer dogs will be provided suites in five-star hotels. "They are not acclimatised to Indian weather so they will be kept in five star rooms with their respective handlers,” said a senior security officer on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

However, it’s not just five-star rooms. The dogs are also going to eat only specially prescribed food, which has already been brought in. The handlers would be with these dogs all the time.

According to senior Delhi police officers, most of these sniffer dogs are German Shepherds, among other breeds.

Interestingly, the security detail for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seldom takes sniffer dogs along during visits to foreign countries. “It happens very rarely. It is just SPG personnel who go with the PM and other state dignitaries,” said a senior official from ministry of home affairs official. He was talking on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

While sniffer the US dogs will be able to access all five-star facilities, their Indian counterparts stay in comfortable, but humble kennels. The 115 sniffer dogs working for Delhi Police stay in kennels in Model Town and other areas.

“No, there are no air-conditioners in their kennels. But they have comfortable surroundings,” said a senior Delhi Police officer. The US Secret Service is bringing in these sniffer dogs to conduct security drill along with Indian sniffer dogs.