Dog Section
The Dog Section consists of a sergeant, eight constables and 15 working dogs.
Sergeant Cameron Shanks heads up the Dog Section which is based at Forthside in Stirling.
Nine German Shepherd and six Spaniels make up the four-legged team.
The German Shepherds are used for tracking, searching for people and property as well as crowd control such as football matches and other public events.
The Spaniels are used for drugs detection.
Unfortunately, due to illness, Mac the Rottweiler was put to sleep. He was the first Rottweiler to be used as a police dog in Scotland.
Currently a new handler and a German Shepherd are being trained.
Dog Breeding Programme
Three German Shepherd bitches are currently used for the breeding programme.
Sergeant Shanks said: "We started the programme in 1997 because we found we were getting a lack of quality dogs being offered to us. We used to take gift dogs but we were finding that a large proportion were unsuitable."
Since then Central Scotland Police have produced nine litters, providing in the region of seventy pups. Four of the current working dogs within the section have come from the breeding programme.
The scheme has grown and we have provided dogs for forces including the Metropolitan Police, Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, Northern Constabulary and Lancashire Constabulary.
Dog Trials
Officers from our Dog Section compete in police dog trials all over the country on a regular basis. It keeps the dogs and handlers fit and is excellent for training. It gives the handlers something to aim for in their "pursuit of excellence".
A lot can be learned from colleagues from other forces, with the trials providing a forum for the exchanging of ideas.
The 42nd Scottish Regional Police Dog Trials are being hosted by Central Scotland Police and are being held at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan from Tuesday March 11th to Friday March 13th.
The force will be represented by Eric Carbiss and Zak,who came third overall last year, and George Lewandowski and Boris.
If they come in the top two overall they will qualify to represent Scotland at the National Police Dog Trials. These will be hosted by Merseyside Police from Sunday April 27th to Friday May 2nd.
Blood Donor Dogs
All of the working dogs are registered blood donors in order to help save the lives of others.
There is a current national shortage for dog blood donors and police officers in charge of the dog unit decided the time was right to act. The force uses a Stirling-based veterinary practice, Broadleys, and all fifteen dogs will be registered.
Sergeant Cameron Shanks said: "We regularly attend the vet with our dogs, generally for minor problems. But on several occasions we have had dogs with more serious illnesses and as a result require more blood. We just take it for granted that blood will be available when required, without really giving it any thought."
"The problem of a shortage of dog blood supplies was recently brought to our attention and we are more than happy to become involved in the scheme, as it may well save numerous animals over the years."
"If one of our dogs was injured in the line of duty we'd expect there to be blood supplies to assist. It seems only right that our dogs give something back that will help others."
And just like humans - blood donors save lives.
