3 Aspin police dogs honored for gallant service in Cordillera
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Three native police dogs, also known as asong Pinoy or Aspin, were honored for their gallant service to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a retirement ceremony here Friday, Aug. 26.
“Gordon,” “Wanda,” and “Bullet” were cited by the men and women of Police Regional Office-Cordillera during the "Salamat Kapatid at Kaibigan” program in Camp Major Bado Dangwa.
Police Col. Elmer Ragay, chief of staff of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, led the event in which certificates of recognition and treats were awarded to the honorees.
Gordon and Wanda served for more than seven years as combat tracking dogs (CTD).
They helped locate a missing Korean in Barlig, Mountain Province in 2017.
They also helped in the search and rescue and retrieval operations during a landslide in Sitio Sakrang, Barangay Banawel, Natonin, Mountain Province in 2018 and were dispatched during an encounter in Tadian, Mountain Province which led to the discovery of harboring areas and escape routes of the New People’s Army.
Bullet served for more than six years as a search and rescue dog.
He, in the aftermath of typhoon “Ompong” in 2018, located four casualties in Barangay Ucab, Itogon, Benguet and was awarded with “Medalya ng Kadakilaan” by former President Duterte.
In 2019, Bullet was tasked in the search and rescue operation for two missing teenagers swept away by raging waters in a creek in Lower Wangal here.
In 2021, he was tapped to locate three missing persons buried in a landslide in Barangay Dominican-Mirador, Baguio City during the onslaught of severe tropical storm “Maring.”
Ragay also awarded the Medalya ng Kasanayan to Police Staff Sgt. Elizer Pe, Gordon’s handler; Police Staff Sgt. Arthur Bayangan, Wanda’s handler, and Police Master Sgt. Arman Acangan, Bullet’s handler, for guiding and training the three canines.
After their retirement, the three canines are now set for new homes and ready for adoption.
A police dog generally starts working at around one year of age and retires at around 10-years-old. Retirement age vary based on breed and health. Starting age also differs but most police dogs work for about eight to nine years.