Honouring India’s Four-Legged Heroes: HyCan 2025 to Host the First-Ever National Canine Bravery Awards

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, HyCan 2025 — Hyderabad’s largest and most celebrated pet show — will host the National Canine Bravery Awards, jointly organised by the RRU Commando K9 Academy and the Hyderabad Canine Club.

Popularly known as “K9 Heroes,” the awards aim to celebrate dogs that have displayed extraordinary courage — whether in uniform or civilian life. This landmark event also commemorates the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s Iron Man and the architect of national unity.

According to organisers, nominations have already been received from leading national and state law enforcement agencies, including the SSB, CISF, BSF, NSG, and Telangana State Police, among others. “It will be a landmark event for K9 units and the security forces,” stated the organisers in a press note issued in the city.

This symbolic collaboration between Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and the Kennel Club of India (KCI) honours India’s brave K9 units — the unsung heroes who serve beside the nation’s police and paramilitary forces in law enforcement, rescue, and disaster-response missions.

Entries from Central and State Police K9 units are being carefully reviewed, with selected stories of canine heroism set to be featured in HyMag, the official publication of HyCan 2025.

During the event, two to three exemplary K9s will be honoured with the National Canine Bravery Award, in the presence of senior police officials, CAPF representatives, and dignitaries. The ceremony will pay tribute to the unwavering loyalty, courage, and service of these four-legged warriors.

India’s K9 Forces: Silent Sentinels of Security

The term K9 refers to trained working dogs serving in the police and armed forces. These elite canines perform critical duties, including:

• Detecting explosives, narcotics, and weapons

• Tracking criminals or missing persons

• Guarding sensitive installations

• Assisting in disaster rescue operations

• Providing psychological support and morale to teams

India’s police and paramilitary forces maintain dedicated K9 divisions across the country. For instance:

• The CISF K9 Unit secures airports and critical installations.

• The NSG K9 Squad assists in elite counter-terrorism operations.

• The CRPF, BSF, and SSB K9 Units serve in border security and anti-insurgency zones.

• The RRU Commando K9 Academy is recognised for its specialised training of handlers and service dogs.

According to official data, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) collectively maintain nearly 4,000 Police Service K9s (PSKs) across India. Of these, 1,500 dogs are with the CRPF, 700 with the CISF, and 100 with the NSG. The Telangana State Police K9 squad alone includes around 150 dogs of various breeds.

Across all state police forces, a previous report cited 2,365 dogs (1,516 sniffers and 849 trackers) — a figure that highlights the growing reliance on canine intelligence and service in maintaining national security.

A Tribute Beyond Words

The National Canine Bravery Awards are more than an event — they are a national salute to loyalty without language and courage without condition.As India’s K9s continue to serve on the frontlines — sniffing out danger, saving lives, and safeguarding citizens — HyCan 2025 stands as a platform to tell their stories and honour their silent sacrifices.

Because not all heroes wear uniforms. Some wear fur and wag their tails.