Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will sell three senior dogs from its Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, as they have reached the end of their operational service.
The dogs — two Labradors and one German Shepherd — were imported from the United Kingdom and trained to assist in counterterrorism operations.
The auction is scheduled for 25 November at the Police Canine Team Headquarters in Mirpur-14. Businesspeople, contractors, and dog enthusiasts are invited to participate as part of the DMP’s routine replacement of ageing K-9s.
The dogs — Finn, a male Labrador born on 10 March 2017; Cory, a female Labrador born on 26 February 2017; and Sam, a male German Shepherd born on 14 February 2017 — served in the CTTC Special Action Unit.
They were trained under UK standards and played key roles in detecting explosives and assisting anti-terror operations.
Experts say Labradors are considered senior at around 6–8 years of age, with signs of ageing including greying muzzles, reduced energy, stiffness, and higher risks of obesity, joint problems, and cancer. German Shepherds face similar age-related risks, including arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, and eye problems. The DMP confirmed all three dogs are in healthy condition.
The dogs were purchased and trained at a cost exceeding Tk1 crore. Five officers trained in the UK later trained 25 additional police personnel to manage the canine squad. ADC Mohammad Sanwar Hossain, then supervisor of the K-9 unit, said the dogs were vital in preventing sabotage, supporting counterterror operations, and aiding special police drives.
