Breaking the myth of male domination

shampoo.
He gazed to the crowd with fulfilment. The people seemed to stare him with envy at the same time, a blast of appreciation glowing from their faces.
“Being proud”, it seems he kept reminding himself to endure those probing eyes from spectators who thronged the showgrounds.
Sighing for a moment while caressing a fair pair of legs that stood beside him to share the accomplishment, he hid himself from the sun that escaped the sparsely distributed clouds.
Indeed, the day had come to finally graduate and be counted among the dog heroes of the nation – the super canines that have been the police’s most trusted friend in the fight against drugs and crime.
While speeches were being read, Ginger looked impatient, the passout parade was the best for him as he almost stood with his two hind legs while officers passed by.
Like the saying goes every dog has its day, certainly Ginger’s day had come with respect, achievement and initiation to serving the nation.
Unlike many of his fellow counterparts before him, he was fortunate to get the rigorous training from a woman.
Assistant Inspector Rambisai Machiwaire taught him the swift and slow marches that saw Ginger graduating to become one of the country’s elite canines.
Though the dog handling profession is mainly associated with men, only recently women considered opportunities in the field.
Slowly the womenfolk have been entering the field. Two women were part of the graduation party last week making them 15 across the country.
Assistant Inspector Machiwaire is proud of her achievement and encourages other women officers to take the challenging job of training police dogs.
“Dog handling is not only for men but anyone who enjoys the trust and bond created between men’s best friend and them.
“Traditionally, cats do well as pets but try dogs and you won’t regret it. I just enjoy handling and training dogs.
“I grew up as a person who enjoyed animals and I used to have a pet. I had no problems fitting into the police canine school,” she said.
She said Ginger has become a member of her family.
“At a year and two months, I know our journey will be worthwhile like the previous one. I had another one who passed on in 2004 and ginger is my second partner.
“Basically I take care of Ginger from feeding him to cleaning and securing his kennel before going home,” she said.
Officer Machiwaire added that as women, they face discouragement as people often stigmatise dog handling for women saying it brings bad luck.
She called on women officers to consider dog handling as part of their careers.
Commissioner Oliver Chibage applauded the participation of women in the field saying the police would ensure the entry of women into the field was without hassles.
She said time had come to consider gender balancing in the Canine School.
Police dogs do not change handlers. In cases of death or retirement of a handler it’s a sad process as the dog has to adjust and break the cemented bond to move on.
Usually in such situations these dogs are taken back into the training school if they are below eight years of age.
If the situation is not permitting the dogs are given to willing families to take care of them if they qualify.
Commissioner Chibage said Millennium Development Goal 3 calls for gender equality and women empowerment and police were working to fulfil it.
“In line with gender mainstreaming the participation of women in this perceived field of male dominion was buttressed by the presence of two female dog handlers,” he said.
He advised the trainees and those in the field to be wary of the stigma associated with dogs.
“It is through your excellent performance that the notion can be dispelled. Partnership with our dogs is a two-edged sword and police will continue gender balancing the profession,” he said. The two female graduates expressed gratitude for the opportunities accorded to them.
There are two categories of police dogs – patrol and drug sniffers.
Patrol dogs are mainly German Shepherds and Rottweilers which are the most intelligent.
They track criminals, search human beings and property.
Drug sniffer dogs are mainly the Golden Retrievers. They are useful for detecting drugs at roadblocks, airports and other ports of entry.
These dogs trace offenders through the use of scent at crime scenes provided cases are reported early.
Despite criminal prevention and tracking of criminals they are also a great bundle of entertainment as they display various skills for spectators during celebrations.
The dogs have a special diet consisting of a kilogramme of pet food, 500ml fresh milk every morning, 250g of dog meal and lots of water daily per dog.
They are fed in such a way that they do not gain excess weight that affects their performance in the field.
In case of health challenges, the police dog section has a veterinary department headed by a fully qualified doctor who constantly gives them check-ups.
Dogs are given names but they do not have ranks like the other members of the force.