Police dogs are tired of doing battle with India's growing menace of terrorism.
This year, New Delhi's seven police dogs were called out 1,400 times to sniff out hidden explosives. In Bombay, the city's best known police dog, Zanjeer, was on the job up to 200 times a week."They are definitely being overworked, and the stress is showing all over," said Anil Kumar Sood, a veterinarian who looks after the dog squad. "Dogs can't talk, but when they suffer, it shows."
The biggest danger is poisoning from the explosive material Trinitrotoluene, or TNT. Two dogs have died of TNT poisoning in New Delhi and one in Bombay this year.
In troubled times, the dogs work 10 to 14 hours a day, often in extreme heat, which can lead to kidney failure.
Nose bleeding among Doberman pinschers, Labradors and German shepherds is rampant and some of the dogs are showing signs of dizziness.
"Gone are the days when Zanjeer could relax a little after his heavy morning meal," said The Telegraph Magazine, which tracked the work of the 2-year-old Labrador. "These days there seems to be no time for fun and games."
Bombay was shaken by a surge of terrorism early this year. In January, rioting erupted between Muslims and Hindus. In March, 13 bombs exploded within two hours, killing more than 300 people and destroying some of the city's landmark buildings.