After helping a local crime branch in Pune to unearth an array of crimes, this retired dog has recently been welcomed to one of her handler’s house in Wakad. Rani’s service has been impeccable over the years. This humble member of local crime branch’s dog squad has won numerous awards as she sniffed out 11 major crimes.
While talking to Pune Mirror, Police naik Ganesh Phapale mentioned that she was with the institution since her puppy years and has been in his care since then. “When she turned six months old, we trained her to be a police dog. After an intensive nine-month dossier she was officially appointed at the local crime branch’s dog squad. I was her handler till date.”
In her superlative career, she has been a catalyst in solving as many as 11 cases, which included the murder of a sugarcane labour woman in Chakan in 2017, rape and murder case of a minor in Jejuri in 2015, State Bank of India robbery in 2013, and the famous Chinkara hunting in Vadgaon Nimbalkar area.
At the annual Police Kartavya Melava, which is an annual competency award for police dogs, Rani won four medals. “Sandeep Patil (superintendent of police, Pune rural) has awarded Rani with Rs 10,000 after she retired,” Phapale said.
Because of the bond they share, Phapale took Rani home. He said, “I have looked after her as a child. I am so attached to Rani that I was not ready to leave her behind. So, I decided to take her home, even as several officers had volunteered to rehabilitate her.”
There is no doubt that Rani will enjoy her post-retirement life full of care and love and she has now a new family who treats her like one of their own. Rajashree (Phapale’s wife) said, “Our son is fond of dogs and we have been looking to adopt one. Rani’s retirement was an occasion to fulfill this wish. Thus, we decided to bring her home.”