K9 Surya – Nagpur, India

Died – 1/4/22

Daredevil sniffer dog ‘Surya’ who served Nagpur Police for decade passes away

 

The ‘sun’ has finally ‘set’ on a glorious life of a Labrador, Surya, the sniffer dog who had provided a decade-long impeccable service to Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) Nagpur Police. Surya breathed last on Tuesday. He succumbed to the prolonged Kidney related issues, says Head Constable Sunil Kakde with teary eyes, who had adopted Surya after his retirement on December 30, 2018. In his 10 years of service with BDDS, Surya had achieved remarkable feats. This canine trailed and caught many criminals with ease. The grateful Nagpur Police have extended their last salute to this ‘fast and furious’ BDDS member who detected and prevented explosive tragedies umpteen times. Born in January 2008, Surya was inducted into Nagpur Police force when he was just 2-month old. However, his health suddenly took a hit with Gastro. He was admitted for three days and had to be treated for 15 more days. Dr Dhakate who treated Surya had said that Surya would not survive. Though the doctor’s words stunned cops, however; Surya, on the contrary, made a fast recovery and since then had hardly fallen ill. Later Surya was taken to Pune’s Bomb Dog Centre for six-month training. After the training, Surya became a master in the BDDS in detecting hidden explosives. Usually, after retirement the police dogs are adopted by pet lovers or NGOs working for animals. However, the dog handler Head Constable Sunil Kakde had adopted Surya after his retirement and also performed his last rites and buried him. “With his growing age, Surya looked somewhat frail but was full of energy. Surya, who was with the police force almost since his birth, had become our family member. After the sniffer dog’s retirement, I adopted him and took care of him till breathed last,” said Kakde, “He left an immense void in my life that I doubt will ever be filled,” he added with teary eyes. Recalling her lost colleague at BDDS, Senior Police Inspector (Mankapur) Vaijayanti Mandavdhare said that, “I was the first Woman Police Inspector of BDDS when got privileged to work with Surya” she says and added, “Surya was darling of the police force. He was very clever, of peaceful nature but used to turn ferocious when it comes to criminals!” I’m gonna miss him, said PI Mandavdhare. “Our brave officer Surya had helped us to crack numerous cases and also averted many untoward incidents in a professional manner. Nagpur Department has saden by the news of Surya’s departure,” said Nagpur Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar while expressing his greif.

 

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.