The RCMP's police dog training centre has been plagued by staffing shortages, low morale and rundown facilities that pose health risks to officers and canines, an internal review says.
RCMP Cpl. Mike Jordan and his police service dog Lucy lead puppies that will become RCMP police dogs into B.C. RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., Thursday, March 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck DARRYL DYCK
Reviewers looked at the governance and delivery of the force’s police dog services between 2018-19 and 2023-24, drawing on interviews and a survey undertaken in RCMP divisions and the training centre. Imprinting begins when a puppy passes a seven-week test and is paired with an RCMP member who aspires to be a handler and has completed a special course.
During the period under review, only 17 of 26 positions were staffed at the training centre. Some employees said that even with a full complement of staff, more positions are needed to meet the demands of front-line policing. “The work environment and infrastructure within pose significant health and wellness risks to employees and dogs,” the evaluation says.
Many handlers refused to house their police service dogs at the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Alberta due to kennels that caused great stress and posed potential health hazards.
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Problems with RCMP police dog program pose 'health and wellness risks': evaluationOTTAWA — The RCMP's police dog training centre has been plagued by staffing shortages, low morale and rundown facilities that pose health risks to officers and canines, an internal review says.
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Problems with RCMP police dog program pose 'health and wellness risks': evaluationOTTAWA — The RCMP's police dog training centre has been plagued by staffing shortages, low morale and rundown facilities that pose health risks to officers and canines, an internal review says.
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