In his monthly radio programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commended the bravery of dogs serving the security forces.

Modi in his radio broadcast also remembered a military dog called 'Rocky'  who helped solve more than 300 cases for the police. He also mentioned dogs named 'Balram' and 'Bhawana' who laid their lives in the service of the nation.

Both dogs detected a large number of explosives en route the Amarnath Yatra. The terrorists triggered a blast and both dogs were martyred while the IED was being diffused.

"Dogs play an important role in disaster management and rescue missions. In India, NDRF has trained dozen such dogs. These dogs are experts in detecting alive persons under the debris in an earthquake or building collapse," Modi said during his radio broadcast.

"I have been told that Indian breed dogs are very good and competent. The cost of their upkeep is also quite less and they are also accustomed to the Indian conditions. Now our security forces have also inducted and trained Indian breed dogs in their dog squads," he added.

He also urged countrymen to bring a dog of Indian breed home if they want to keep a pet.

"Next time when you think of keeping a dog, then you must bring one of the Indian breed dog homes. When self-reliant India is becoming the mantra of masses, then no area should be left behind."

Meanwhile, Two Army dogs, Vida of an Army Dog Unit located in Northern Command and Sophieof Special Frontier Force, were awarded COAS Commendation Cards on August 15, 2020.

Vida was instrumental in the detection of five mines and one grenade buried underground and Sophie, an explosive detection dog sniffed out the presence of initiator/accelerant which could have been hastily used to fabricate an IED, thereby saving precious lives, Indian army said.