19 Jan 2021

The well-known Botswana Police Service (BPS) sniffer dog, Julius, has died aged 10.

Julius, commonly known as ‘Boots’ died after a long illness at a veterinary clinic in Gaborone.

Botswana Police Service spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube confirmed the death, saying she died from lymphoma, which is a blood cancer disease.  

He explained that the BPS dog, which was trained on drugs and narcotics, had been in and out of the clinic since December before she died on January 12.

Boots became popular in 2017 during police operations to uproot illegal drugs around country and was a marvel to watch on television when on duty.

Without a leash on her collar, Julius knew she was off duty.

With a leash around her neck, she sprung to action and sniffed out illegal stuff.

In one television episode, she made a record-breaking execution and sniffed out a bag containing over P19 000 in a homestead in Broadhurst, which was suspected to be the proceeds of dagga and other illicit drugs.

In partnership with her handler, Sergeant Kedisang Innocent, Julius would achieve results that machines were unable to and got the job done faster too.

Boots, who was considered a fully-fledged police officer, was bought in South Africa in 2013 and subsequently trained as a sniffer dog.

Originating from the province of New Foundland in Canada, Boots was a Labrador Retriever.

Julius was, however, procured from a South African company that specialises in dog breeding and training. BOPA