24 August 2009By Stef Hall
These are no pampered pooches – it's the thin blue canines in their posh new digs.
Central heating, scenic views, and state-of-the-art design are among the new facilities on offer at Lancashire Police Dogquarters.
The force has officially opened an £80,000 new complex for police pooches at the dog school on Lindle Lane, in Hutton.
The cash was invested in 20 spacious new kennels, which boast heating that can be adjusted for the animals in summer and winter, as well as new exercise yards.
Members of the Police Authority – who sanctioned the cost of the scheme – and animal welfare visitors were given a guided tour of the new kennels before the animals gave a demonstration of their crime-fighting work, including the use of headcams and sniffing out explosives.
Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Walker called it a "poignant and significant moment" in the history of the dog school.
She said: "For many years there has been a real desire to improve the facilities, so today is a pinnacle.
"The Police Authority had to be persuaded somewhat that we needed to invest.
"When competing with resources for frontline policing it is not always easy, so we thank them.
"Dogs are an essential element of our tactics in policing Lancashire. We have six football teams in the area and if we didn't have the dogs and horses to deal with public safety we would not manage it."
The new kennels are easier for staff to clean and are more spacious than the old ones.
Brian Twist, coordinator for the independent animal welfare team which visits the police dogs, said: "We have been trying for these kennels for quite a while and everyone is really pleased we have got such a good facility – it makes for better training with the dogs."
Lancashire police dogs are trained in numerous roles including learning to sniff out explosives, drugs, money, blood, and bodies.
A total of four dog trainers are based at the Constabulary's Headquarters where, between them, they will train on average 60 dogs each year.
The Constabulary currently has 22 trained dog handlers spread across the county.
http://www.lep.co.uk/weirdnews/Police-dogs-get-fivestar-kennels.5581002.jp
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