16 PDEA 'hero dogs' in need of new homes

Sixteen "hero dogs" of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that are now "retired" are in need of new masters.

According to PDEA, 18 dogs were retired but only 16 were up for adoption as the two, both Belgian Malinois, "are not fit for adoption due to their aggressive behavior."

"The PDEA K9 Unit facility is not an ideal place for fostering these hero dogs, hence, they were made available for adoption so that they can have a stress-free environment and loving family that could give them care and attention," said PDEA Director Aaron Aquino in a statement on Friday.

The 18 dogs that were retired were 14 Belgian Malinois, two Jack Russell Terriers, one German Shepherd, and one Labrador.

The seven K9s were allotted to PDEA personnel who had expressed their desire to adopt, and the remaining nine will be open for adoption to interested individuals.

Interested parties will undergo screening and interview from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the PDEA K9 Unit facility in Sitio Lambakin, Barangay Sto. Cristo, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, on Friday.

Aquino said this is "to determine their capacity to adopt, as a stringent requirement set forth in the Standard Operating Procedure of PDEA K9 Unit."

The PDEA chief said the retired K9s served for several years during successful of anti-illegal drug operations in jail facilities, search and seizure, interdiction and checkpoints in airports, seaports, and transport terminals nationwide. —KBK, GMA News