Audacity of criminals, user friendly affordable communication technology, propensity to social individualism and indifference are contributing to foster fertile grounds for the growth of delinquency in our country. Such threats call for a change in mindset towards even more synergy between the public and the law enforcers. Besides, proactive approach might be determining in countering felony.

What about, for instance, increasing partnering with animals in fighting crime? While these intelligent allies of men are often seen accompanying law enforcers patrolling towns like Vancouver where “There are 18 Canine Teams working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” ; they are rarely seen by the side of our police officers on our roads. Yet, they could have been quite a strong deterrent for potential trouble makers!  Who would take the risks of arguing with a growling animal?

Understandably enough, some security services have weighed the contribution of strong healthy dogs to the respect that they need to earn in order to keep misbehavior under control.

Besides, dogs can be very efficient in assisting police during interventions. In some situations, they are liable to display swiftness and hardihood that might surpass their masters'. Their well developed scent allows them to track bomb, drug and wrongdoers' presence. In some American schools they are sometimes used to control and discourage presence of illicit substances on the premises.

Even Iowa University got a new police officer (a dog) last fall. His name is Aro, and although he’s just 3 years old, he has plenty of training under his belt - or, collar - including sniffing out bombs, tracking criminals, searching buildings for unauthorized persons, and finding evidence.

Horses are also used by police officers abroad. Special branches known as police mounted branch ensure such duties as patrolling and crowd managing in over 30 countries around the world. Horses give movable additional height to police officers who easily dominate their surroundings while being more visible to would be wrongdoers around.

Police mounted branch also cater for swift interventions. Their effectiveness on long stretches of lands like beaches is significant. For instance Chennai Marina beach, 2nd longest beach in the world, is patrolled day and night by the Chennai mounted branch.

A policeman riding a horse is also a strong public relations tool. These majestic animals have always generated considerable fascination and admiration. This potential is likely to increase further when they are perceived as actors in keeping society safer .

If animals can contribute to prevent criminals from giving us a dog's life, why not make better use of them in securing our ride against crime?

 By ALAIN JEANNOT