Wagging tails and sniffing noses will be poking around Vernon neighbourhoods this summer, but residents are not to be alarmed.
The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is sending a heads up to residents that their police dogs and handlers regularly conduct training exercises throughout the city.
"They train where they work, and that means using real environments to prepare for real situations," said Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. "These sessions involve tracking practice, article searches, and other drills and it鈥檚 not unusual for the teams to move across properties or through yards. They do their best to minimize interactions with the public and avoid areas where pets are outside or people are gathered, but we just wanted to send this reminder out so we can hopefully avoid catching people off guard."
During the exercises, residents may notice uniformed officers in green, working alongside their canine partners in neighbourhoods, parks, alleys, trails, and along roads.
Dog handlers are dressed differently from general RCMP members, with police marked on their front and back. The difference in uniforms is functional and specific to the work they do with their canine partners.
"We appreciate the public鈥檚 understanding and support as our teams continue to train," said Terleski. "If you see them out and about, know they鈥檙e working hard to stay sharp and ready to keep our communities safe."
