Retired police dogs in Maharashtra will now be allowed to stay with the force for the rest of their lives instead of being sent to adoptive homes, following a directive by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, officials said on Sunday.
The decision followed a Home Department report that highlighted the difficulties some police dogs faced after retirement, including trouble adjusting to new surroundings and, in some cases, refusing food after being separated from their handlers. Under the proposed plan, the police department will take care of their food, medical needs and upkeep until the end of their lives.
Police dogs are an important part of the force and help detect explosives and narcotics, trace criminals, carry out search and rescue operations, and locate people trapped under debris at accident and disaster sites, officials said. A police dog usually joins the force at six to nine weeks of age and undergoes extensive training before being deployed for different duties.
At present, dogs are retired after completing 10 years of service and are placed with suitable adopters. However, the Home Department report said some dogs found it difficult to adjust after being separated from the police personnel with whom they had formed close bonds during their years of service. According to the government release, some retired dogs reportedly stopped eating after the separation.
After receiving the report, Fadnavis directed the Home Department to make arrangements for retired police dogs to continue living with the police force. “After giving 10 years of dedicated and loyal service to the police force, it is not right that such dogs should suffer. Though they are animals, we must take care of them,” the Chief Minister said.
He directed the department to ensure that the dogs could spend their post-retirement lives comfortably within the police establishment, which had been their home during service. Under the proposed arrangement, the police department will provide food, healthcare and other necessary maintenance for the dogs after retirement until their death.
The release said police dogs generally live for only another one to one-and-a-half years after completing their 10-year service, and the new arrangement will allow them to remain with their handlers and the force in a familiar environment.
Animal and dog lovers have welcomed the decision, calling it a sensitive step towards ensuring a dignified post-retirement life for the canine members of the police force.
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 23, 2026 10:25 IST
