Metro police K9 dog unit receives a hot water dog wash
“The response has been overwhelming, and it is heartwarming to see businesses and residents across the city heed the call to become involved with the dog unit.”
The Tshwane Municipal Police Department K9 dog unit can now bust crime afresh thanks to a new dog wash installation.
MMC for community safety Karen Meyer said the dog unit is the first line of defence for crowd control, sniffing out narcotics and bombs.
“After four to five months of intensive training these brave dogs are put to work, preventing crime and cleaning up the streets,” said Meyer.
“But after a long, hard shift they couldn’t even look forward to a hot bath because their accommodation had no access to hot water. That is all about to change.”
Meyer sent out a request asking for the community to support the K9 unit with donations.
“The call was heeded by Plumb-it Online who supplied the Stiebel Eltron integrated heat pump, including the fittings and piping required.”
Meyer expressed her immense gratitude for the donation.
“The response has been overwhelming, and it is heartwarming to see businesses and residents across the city heed the call to become involved with the dog unit.”
She added that the K9 unit plays an important role in the city’s fight against crime and that it has many regular successes, including recovering hi-jacked vehicles and drug busts.
Nico Jooste, Stiebel Eltron sales representative, said that a large heat pump like the 300l unit used for this installation (WWK 302 H) can save between 60% and 80% of a typical water heating bill.
There are environmental factors to account for, though.
“The higher the air temperature, the better the performance will be,” explained Jooste. There are also efficiencies that can be built into the installation.
Pipe distances must be kept as short as possible and the pipework needs proper insulation to avoid energy losses.
Inspector Adriaan du Plessis of the K9 unit said: “In winter it is difficult to wash the dogs and keep them clean – it was a punishment for the dogs.
“They have to be groomed properly because we go into public areas,” said Du Plessis.
“Now, with the hot water, the dogs love being bathed. It eases some of the stress on animals expected to enter people’s homes or search public venues, as well as apprehend dangerous or armed suspects.”
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