Award-winner brings cheer to dogs
A PORT Elizabeth K9 unit policeman – whose trusted dog has helped him scoop a national award – has donated R10 000 to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League.
The cash donation, as well as 60 bags of dog food, comes two months after Sergeant Shaun Dicks, 37, and his Rottweiler, Bruno, a patrol and explosive detection dog, won the Annual Tracker Individual Award.
It was for recovering the most stolen and hijacked vehicles.
At the handover of the cheque at the Port Elizabeth K9 unit yesterday, police top brass said they were looking into sprucing up the unit’s fleet to ensure more vehicles were on the road.
The unit has been plagued by vehicle shortages in recent years.
Dicks and Bruno won the national award for recovering more than 50 hijacked and stolen vehicles – from July last year to July this year.
In addition, the master and his dog nabbed 98 suspects, mostly linked to car theft or hijackings.
Dicks has been a policeman for 17 years and based at the Port Elizabeth K9 unit for the past five years.
As part of the award, Tracker donates R10 000 to a charity of the winner’s choice.
Asked why he chose the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, Dicks said he wanted to ensure the animals had a good Christmas.
“I have assisted the staff on some calls and seen what they deal with – they need this money to help the animals,” he said.
“At least, this way, I have contributed to the animals having a good Christmas with food.”
League inspector Beverley Rademeyer welcomed the donation.
“This money will go towards several spaying and dipping exercises that we do in the poorer communities,” she said.
“With one dip and spay-a-thon exercise, we treat about 300 dogs and cats. This includes a general check up, medicine and spaying operations.” Rademeyer said the league planned on doing a massive drive like that in Port Elizabeth next month .
“We are just so grateful that he [Dicks] thought of us,” she said.
The Port Elizabeth K9 unit was ranked the top facility for dogs during a recent National SPCA inspection, Rademeyer said.
Tracker operations director, Ron Knott-Craig said that the Eastern Cape police had scooped the award for two consecutive years showed their dedication to combating crime.
Knott-Craig said the Eastern Cape K9 unit had also been ranked as the best police unit in the Eastern Cape.
“This demonstrates the commitment and dedication by the members at these units. It is encouraging to see,” he said.
Deputy provincial commissioner Major-General Andre Swart said: “There are no places in the correctional service centres because people like you [Dicks and the K9 units] are doing your job so well.
“Let us fly the flag high and let you be an inspiration to all.”
Asked about the ongoing fleet shortage, Swart said he was committed to ensuring capacity at all K9 units across the Eastern Cape.
“It will take time, but we are looking into this and are working on a plan,” he said.