Just a few days ago, during a specialized operation in Burgas, a kilogram of cocaine and several kilograms of marijuana were found buried. The drug was found by a tracking dog that became a hero of the police specialized operation. 9-year-old Pero is the most experienced tracking dog in Southeast Bulgaria together with his handler. Nova TV hides the identity of the special police officer and calls him Inspector X, because together with the German shepherd they participate in all specialized operations of the GDBOP and the "Gendarmerie".
"The dogs are part of us, just as we are part of them. We are one whole," says the handler of the tracking dog, police officer X.
Pero is trained to follow his handler, to feel his gaze, to hear his breathing, to understand every movement and mood. And his sense of smell is rarely wrong. "He is trained to detect narcotics. His goal is to detect. He doesn't pay attention to anything else except finding a specific thing. That is his goal and he is looking for it", claims his handler.
Pero has detected 90% of the drugs in the district in the field. "Dogs are like people. Each animal has a different character. There must be a different approach to the way dogs are trained", points out police officer X.
The elderly Pero continues to be strong and working. Worthy of the title of commissioner. However, the German shepherd will soon have to retire. "Police dogs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system work for up to 8 years. After the 8th year, at the handler's discretion, if the qualities are still there - they continue to work until a certain age is reached, at which the dog retires. In most cases, we look after them at home, the handlers pick them up. Because the love and care they have, they are part of our families", says Pero's handler.
Policeman X works with several dogs - German and Belgian shepherds. Some trained for riot control, others for searching for people, others just for detecting drugs. He tells us that the bond between handler and dog is strong and specific. "When you go on vacation for more than two or three days, when I haven't seen him - I come outside of working hours just to see them, to feel the love, the play and all this activity again. And I say again, if someone doesn't want to do this, there's no way things will work out", is categorical policeman X.
Axel is quite temperamental and boisterous, but worthy of replacing the experienced Pero in the field. The dog can also work in a riot situation, as part of its training is to carry out such commands. Part of the large family of police handlers are the new recruits in the team - the energetic Belgian shepherds “Malinois“, for whom the training takes place in the form of a game.
"Mert is currently about 9 months old. He is currently a trainee. as is Hera. They are currently small dogs that are being trained. The two will be trained for the Burgas Directorate for the Detection of Narcotics," says police officer X.
And Pero will head out on one of his last operations before going on vacation. Dignified and loyal, beloved by his long-time handler.