Training and Breeding Activities

MDC bred 65 puppies in 2000, 20 of which were fully trained in order to replace older mine clearance dogs. They expect to breed 50 more in 2001. The remaining 45 puppies bred will continue Young Dog Training before undergoing evaluation in the field. Once a mine dog passes evaluation and is sent to a field site, it must undergo a series of Refresher Training exercises. 45 dogs displaying weakness in training activities were retired as a part of MDC’s Dog Retirement Program. The dog handlers themselves must pass a series of Qualification Courses before entering the field; 16 new trainers qualified in 2000.

In addition to preparing the dogs for clearance and surveying activities, the Center has continued exploring mine dog technology advancements by conducting Mine Dog Trials with 74 dogs. These trials involve testing the dogs’ effectiveness in soft land, sandy land, grassy land and hard land. The results of these studies showed the dogs to be least effective in hard land areas and most effective in sandy land areas (see Table 1 below); however, a significant difference between sandy lands and soft and grassy lands was not observed until tested with landmines residing 70 cm below the surface.

Medical Care

The MDC staff includes a veterinary department responsible for breeding and treating the puppies and mine dogs by shampooing them, vaccinating them, de-worming them and providing them with medical care. In 2000, 25 dogs were put to sleep and 10 surgeries were performed. The Center also includes a medical support staff to care for the dog handlers and deminers. Six MDC personnel were killed in demining accidents, and 26 were injured in non-demining incidents (two of them died). This medical team also assists other local deminers and Afghani people. In 2000, the medical staff treated 27,500 patients (2,500 from demining organizations and 25,000 locals and IDPs).

Problems Faced in 2000

The biggest problem that MDC faced in 2000 was the budget constraints that led to personnel waiting three months to be paid for their services from June through September. When the donor country (Germany) received this news, they supplied the proper funds, and MDC operations resumed. Another problem the Center faced was the condition of the dog gear, which was supposed to be replaced but was not received immediately. Once the teams received their gear, many pieces were absent. Additionally, three personnel (two dog handlers and one dog instructor) did not return from an Explore 2000 Exhibition in Germany, thus decreasing the Training Department staff.

This Year’s Accomplishments

So far this year (as of September 2001), MDC operations have been successful. Seventeen clearance teams in 13 Afghani provinces have cleared 4,594,523 m2 destroying at least 688 mines of diverse origins. As a result, MDC has already reached 70 percent of the goal set by MACA for 2001, and they expect to meet this goal by the end of the year. Additionally, 31 MDSs have surveyed 272,114 m2 and cleared 379,279 m2 of land (261,350 m2 boundary clearance and 117,909 m2 special task clearance). Most importantly, no mine-related accidents have occurred during MDC demining operations so far this year.

Mine Detection and Dog Center Annual Conference

MDC held its annual seminar at their training camp in Kabul in January 2001. At this seminar, Program Director Mohammad Shohab Hakimi presented conference attendees with an overview of the previous years’ accomplishments pointing out many improvements that will be made to the program as a result of newfound weaknesses. Hakimi also spoke to the workers, reminding them how significant their contributions are and commending them for the risks they take to save the lives of those around them. He also reminded MDG team leaders that they should always follow the standard demining operation procedures laid out by MACA in order to ensure their safety as well as the safety of local civilians. Finally, Hakimi announced the company’s goal for 2001 and the overall plan for obtaining this goal.

Once Hakimi had finished addressing the crowd, UNOCHA program manager Richard Kelly recognized the MDC as the largest mine dog clearance program, which makes up nearly 50 percent of the 350 dogs serving landmine-infested countries around the world. Kelly also announced a proposal by the United Nations for a two-year study of mine dog clearance teams in Geneva and his hopes that the MDC will contribute to the study. Finally, the conference closed as Kelly distributed the certificates of program completion to new dog instructors and handlers.

MDC Expansion

As a result of continued disputes in the region, MDC has been unable to provide services in northern Afghanistan. Recently, however, MDC provided a regional office in Mazar-e-Sharif, a city in the northern region, in order to implement a demining program in the area using MDC survey and clearance teams.

So far this year, MDC has sent out 17 mine dog clearance teams and 33 mine dog survey sets. c/o MDC

Additionally, an MDC team consisting of nine workers has been sent to conduct mine detection dog field tests in Yemen. The purpose of these studies is to find out if mine detection dogs are compatible with field conditions in Yemen. If these tests yield positive results, the Yemen National Mine Action Program will implement a mine dog program in their lands as well.

Contact Information

Mohammad Shohab Hakimi
Program Director
Mine Detection and Dog Center
Box 1324 GPO-G.T. Road
Pabbi Station-Peshawar Post
Saddar, Peshawar
Pakistan
Tel: +92-91-229236
Fax: +92-91-229179
E-mail: mdc@brain.net.pk, mdc@liwal.com