A pregnant woman in has been bothered by a police K9 dog repeatedly and has thus become the center of talks of disbanding K9 units in public areas. The lady, who would not like her identity revealed, insists that a dog was barking very viciously at her and was the reason for her undergoing a lot of stress during her pregnancy.
The Incident
The victim informed that these situations usually happened near her house and when she was on her regular walks. She insists that the police dog was so aggressive in the presence of the handler, who was on duty with that it overreacted to her presence, which was not in the least provocative. “I do not for a moment underestimate the services these dogs render in detecting danger, but I was just taking a quiet walk”, she reported. And the dog still\’s barking and agitation were terrorizing, especially for me in this condition”.
Police Response
The local police confirmed that they have registered the complaint, as well as stated that their K9 units are trained to avoid unnecessary alarms. On top of that, they have initiated a thorough inquiry into whether the dog’s conduct was lawful or a result of a training mistake. “The police are sure that the K-9 dogs are important for people’s safety, but we take seriously all the complaints”, the spokesman was quoted as saying. “Our investigation will make sure that our officers’ practices save all our citizens, including those who are in special need, such as pregnant women”.
Public Reaction
The incident has caused a reaction on social media, which has made people discuss the pros and cons of the K9 unit. Some residents of the city are convinced of the effectiveness and usefulness of the K9 team in reducing illegal activities. On the other hand, the opponents demand the implementation of stricter guidelines that would help to avoid the unnecessary distress of the citizens. Dog specialists from the Bombay Animal Rescue and Care (BARC) in India say that chemical changes during pregnancy might influence a dog in a way that the male dog does not like the female’s reaction, with the result of the dog biting her, yet proper training of the dog might stop such effects.
Moving Forward
Supporters have been asking for clearer guidelines on the interaction of the K9 unit with the sensitive public, particularly expecting mothers, children, and senior citizens. Besides, the woman who was the victim in that case expects that the exposure of her story could be a turning point in the public’s education about and the police’s activities towards the marginalized members of society.
