well done Momo, show those big dogs how it's done
'
Momo', Chihuahua, Recruited For Japanese Police Search-And-Rescue Force
In the world of Japan's police dogs, size does not matter.
The BBC is reporting that a tiny Chihuahua beat out several competing canines in the recruitment tests for one of Japan's search-and-rescue teams. Tiny Momo, or 'Peach,' was reportedly able to locate a person in a mere five minutes after sniffing their cap, and was chosen specifically for her size, which allows her to more adeptly navigate small areas during emergency operations, such as rescue efforts after earthquakes.
The seven-year-old Momo, who weighs less than 7 pounds, will begin work in January.
Momo the Chihuahua was one of 32 successful candidates out of 70 dogs and will now join the police in the Japanese prefecture of Nara.
Seeking out a person in five minutes after merely sniffing their cap, she passed her exams with flying colors.
The wispy-haired pooch will be instrumental in disaster rescue operations. In the case of earthquakes it is thought her tiny frame will fit through narrow passages with much more ease than a German Shepherd, which are the most common choice for police K-9 units.
‘Any breed of dog can be entered to become a police dog in the search and rescue division’, but a Nara police spokesperson added that the appointment was ‘quite unusual’.
