A doggedly loyal security crew
Meet some of Metro Cebu’s “security doggos.”
People see them in almost all establishments, especially those filled with people. They work hard all day just like the average person, although sometimes, they like to sleep on the job. Their nose is their number one tool—one spot-on sniff could save hundreds of people from harm.
These four-legged guardians dedicate their lives for the security of a community, and it’s high time we get to meet some of them on a personal level. These trained dogs are ready for all kinds of danger—but for now, let’s get them under the spotlight that they deserve. Meet four of Cebu’s best trained security dogs and melt at their superb skills, deadset focus and natural paw-someness.
SATUG AGE: 5 BREED: GERMAN SHEPHERD SPECIALTIES: SNIFFING FOR BOMB/EXPLOSIVES AND NARCOTICS CUTE TRICKS: HIGH FIVE ESTABLISHMENT: CEBU CITY MARRIOTT HOTEL
Satug belongs to APM K9 WatchDog, a division from the agency employed by Cebu City Marriott Hotel for its canine unit, Davao Cavaliers. Not only hailed as the “Top Dog,” the alpha among his peers, he’s also deemed the friendliest among the bunch. When he’s not protecting the premises eight hours a day or going about his weekly drills, one will see him playing with his favorite toy, a tennis ball during ball drive, his treat after a good day’s work (and watch his ears perk up). He takes his job seriously, but Satug knows how to let loose, like stop and smell the roses, among other things.
NIKKA AGE: 6 BREED: LABRADOR RETRIEVER SPECIALTIES: SNIFFING FOR BOMB/EXPLOSIVES CUTE TRICKS: PLAYING FETCH USING HER TENNIS BALL ESTABLISHMENT: AYALA CENTER CEBU
This cutie’s name is Nikka, a six-year-old lab who loves to sleep. She’s a bomb sniffing dog who loves to play with her tennis ball during her free time. She was brought to her handler Melboy Monreal’s care when she was still six months old and was immediately trained to sniff bombs at that age. She works for three hours every day with Saturday as her rest day. She wakes up at five in the morning, she eats her breakfast and exercises before going to the mall to work at nine in the morning and then goes home at 12 noon. She has a microchip implanted on the back of her neck which has her credentials as she is one of a few dogs licensed and registered to be part of a K9 Unit.
RAMBO AGE: 2 BREED: LABRADOR RETRIEVER SPECIALTIES: SNIFFING FOR BOMB/EXPLOSIVES CUTE TRICKS: PLAYING FETCH USING HIS TENNIS BALL ESTABLISHMENT: SHANGRI- LA’S MACTAN RESORT AND SPA
Imagine this adorable cutie greeting you as you enter the gates of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa. This playful “pawlice” named Rambo, one of the resort’s reliable security dogs, passed the K9 exam by Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team and Philippine National Police, consistently passing his daily drills to this day. He’s even reported for duty in high-profile events including the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship and will also be part of the team for the upcoming Asean meetings. He does love his tennis ball. But apart from playing fetch, he got another trick: getting a bottle of water for his handler.
GENIE AGE: 6 BREED: BELGIAN MALINOIS SPECIALTY: SNIFFING FOR BOMB/EXPLOSIVES CUTE TRICKS: SHAKE HANDS ESTABLISHMENT: PARKMALL (IN COORDINATION WITH SWAT MANDAUE)
Playful, affectionate, and fiercely loyal (like all dogs, of course), That’s Genie for you. Trained since she was six months old, Genie’s been patrolling the premises of Parkmall with her handler since 2011. She likes to roam the place and do random inspections. With that responsibilty, comes extensive drills done on a daily basis like running for agility purposes among other exercises. She enjoys playing with her tennis ball when she’s off the clock, and enjoys her cheese for doggie treats.