Posted on 03/04/2006 2:01:59 PM PST by wagglebee
While US President George W Bush was checking into the presidential suite at one of Delhi's top hotels, a group of canines belonging to his security detail were enjoying similar comfort nearby. Some 17 dogs belonging the K-9 squad of the US Secret Service have also been put up at top Delhi five-star hotels, Indian media reports say.
Special rooms have apparently been booked in the Sheraton hotel, where Mr Bush is staying, and at the equally plush Le Meridien hotel.
The German Shepherds and Labradors are staying in rooms which cost more than $200 a night.
Early on Thursday, they were pressed to work as they sniffed their way through the marble memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, which President Bush visited later in the day.
Air-conditioned comfort
Delhi police have their own dog squads which were used to comb all the locations POTUS (President of the United States) was to visit.
"But the US Secret Service is pressing their own dog squad at the locations," an unnamed official of the Delhi Police Dog Training School is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
But while the Indian dogs retreated to their kennels, the K-9 squad were taken back to the comfort of their air-conditioned hotel rooms.
"They are inside the hotel, but in an area where they will not be seen by everyone," the Hindu newspaper quoted a hotel official as saying, adding that the dogs were not known for their friendliness or affection.
Reports say the dogs hold military ranks including sergeant major, first, second, third and fourth lieutenant.
"We were told to be careful while addressing the animals and not call them dogs," the Asian Age newspaper quoted a staff member of the Sheraton hotel as saying.
"We have been instructed to address them as per their ranks."
Ping!
You can say that again.
Do they get to use spa services? A nice paw massage after a hard days work would be nice.
These doggies should be pampered, the're having to eat indian and pakistianain mystery meat... Yeeeeech! my stomach is churning at the though of it...
Woof! : )
Mmmmm curry Alpo.
Do I see some fun being had by the dogs' handlers here? Hotel staff should have no reason to address these particular dogs.
I doubt it, I'm sure the Secret Service brought the good food over for them.
I have a feeling they are being housed with their handlers, not just given a room. But, I like your take on it!!!
Slow news day for the press?
I imagine that we're supposed to find this scandalous. I'm sure old Mohammad down the street has a kennel where the SS could leave their dogs.
He'd even feed them cheap. /sarc
Ping
It would seem that way.
We had a guy at work from Pakistan a few years back who invited us to lunch at his friend's Pakistani restaurant and the food was pretty tasting but really filling and heavy. When he asked how I liked it, I said it was good but I feel like I should go out and herd some goats for the rest of the day.
Actually, I strongly suspect that this article is taking some liberties with the truth, in order to scandalize the Muslims (there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan).
Muslims, at least fundamentalist ones, consider dogs unclean, based on a hadith about Mohammed's instructions to kill dogs.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
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