St. Petersburg Police Dogs Track Criminals and Rescue Missing Children with Unmatched Skill
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – A Belgian Malinois named Yamato and his handler, Police Lieutenant Daria Rakutina, are among a specialized team of canine officers in St.Petersburg credited with solving serious crimes and locating missing persons, including a recent case involving a violent assault and the search for a lost child. Their work highlights the crucial role police dogs play in modern law enforcement, functioning not as tools, but as valued partners.
Yamato recently assisted in the apprehension of a suspect who attacked store employees with a knife and fled the scene. Utilizing his exceptional scent-tracking abilities, Yamato led investigators to the perpetrator’s home just hours after the attack, pinpointing the address by scent alone. “Thanks to my partner’s sense of smell, we managed to find the missing little girl,” Rakutina stated. In a separate incident, Yamato successfully located a young girl who had wandered four kilometers from her home, ensuring her safe return.
Most police dogs in the region are selected for their energetic temperaments – typically choleric or sanguine – and undergo rigorous training alongside their handlers. These canine officers are fully integrated into the police force, receiving regular inspections, salaries, days off, and even bonuses in the form of extra meals.
“A police dog is not a tool, but a friend and colleague,” emphasized Olga Filippova and Daria Rakutina. The success of the canine service relies on a deep understanding between handler and dog, requiring constant observation of the animal’s well-being and recognition of subtle cues indicating fatigue or illness. “If this is not taken into account, then there will be no result; the dog simply will not be able to work efficiently. And the price of a mistake in our profession is very high,” they explained. The team operates on the principle that a dog’s performance directly reflects the skill and attentiveness of its handler.
