Police officer Mélanie and her dog Looba from the canine team of the Toulouse Mirail gendarmerie company were again rewarded for their services. His dog has helped find many people who are disoriented or in trouble.
The medals gather around the neck of “Looba”, the dog of the cynophile team of the gendarmerie of Toulouse Mirail. On the occasion of the 4th edition of the Hero Dogs Trophies, this Belgian Shepherd Malinois received an award for services rendered to the public. This event organized at the end of May in Paris rewards all the achievements of the dogs that they work with the police, firefighters, armies, nursing homes or even that they belong to individuals.
Warrant Officer Mélanie with General Olivier Kim, Director of Operations and Employment of the Gendarmerie.
This competition is divided into 11 categories, including “civilian rescue dog / human search”. Looba, this 7-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois and his mistress Warrant Officer Mélanie were therefore rewarded for the work done in this area. A title won among 135 submitted files. “At first I didn’t even think about applying,” says Mélanie, still with a lot of emotion in her voice, the dog handler in the department of dog husbandry in Haute-Garonne. Since 2018, the warrant officer has shared the daily life of this four-legged companion with extraordinary flair. “I see it as my job, but it is clear that I am honored and very touched to receive this award. It rewards our daily efforts”, glides the soldier.
A dog abandoned by his master
Among the achievements, Looba and the police officer have made it possible to find disoriented people who, without the intervention of this duo, would never have been able to return to their homes. With her dog, she can be called upon at any time to intervene throughout Occitanie. “It can be runaways, people with Alzheimer’s disease or criminals,” explains the professional. The latter immerses herself in one of the most significant interventions since working with Looba. “I remember once when I tried a new technique to find a burglar who had been put on the run by the owner of a house. Just by feeling an object touched by the thug, Looba tracked and managed to get back to him,” she recalls.
Over the past four years, out of almost 200 operations, at least 40 people have been found thanks to the animal’s very keen sense of smell. “It’s also because we have a bond with Looba. Very quickly we managed to understand each other, and therefore this connection provides a good efficiency during the interventions”, notes Mélanie again. Already on December 8, this dog was rewarded by receiving the national defense bronze medal, awarded by Major General Charles Bourillon, commander of the Occitanie Gendarmerie Region and commander of the Haute-Garonne Departmental Gendarmerie Group.
An incredible journey, especially since the life of this Belgian Malinois didn’t start out that way. This dog had been abandoned by his master and then recovered from a kennel club before joining the ranks of the gendarmerie. Very quickly he was placed with police officer Mélanie and trained by her. A beautiful professional and emotional relationship between the two has developed over time.
