Afghan's only female dog trainer sets canines through their paces
Published 29 September, 2008, 14:04
Just over a decade ago 36-year-old Tracey Harmse became South Africa's first female dog handler and narcotics instructor, while serving in the South African Police Force. Now she is Afghanistan's only female canine trainer setting dogs through their paces to find explosives and drugs.
“I love my job,” Harmse said. “Every day is different, because I'm working with animals.”
Harmse, who has been living in Afghanistan for the past 15 months, works for a US veteran owned canine firm based in Kabul. Amongst their clients are the US, Canadian and British armies, as well as government agencies and security companies.
She trains Afghan and Philippino men to become certified dog handlers and is in control of 30 dogs that are imported from South Africa and the USA.
“I choose dogs that have a high ball drive, and aren't afraid of people and traffic,” Harmse explained.
The explosive detection teams operate at entry control check points; do vehicle and building sweeps, as well as battle area clearance – some of it in the most hostile areas of Afghanistan.
From next month the narcotic detection teams will be doing aircraft and baggage checks at Kabul International airport.
“I foresee problems once our dogs start working at the airport,” Harmse said. “This country is run on narcs.”
A mother of two young children, Harmse left her family behind in South Africa for a better job opportunity in Afghanistan. “They constantly worry about my safety, but so far I've had no bad experiences here,” she said.
She finds the language barrier a problem though, and dislikes the way Afghan men stare at her.
“You should see the looks on their faces when I'm driving!” Harmse laughed.
Although Afghan men drive their vehicles the way they ride their bushkashi horses, Harmse likes her independence. “My legs were shaking after I got out of my car the first time I drove in Afghan traffic,” she said. “But now I'm used to it.”
While exploring Kabul, Harmse found a tattooist much to her surprise. Addicted to tattoos, she had an elaborate design etched on the lower part of her back.
“Next will be a lizard around my right breast and when I become an old woman I will have it changed into a snake curving down toward my belly,” Harmse chuckled.
The dog trainer wants to live in Afghanistan for as long as possible. “Although I've found that Afghans generally don't like dogs and mainly use them for dog fights and herding livestock, my dogs make Afghanistan a safer place.”
Lizette Potgieter for RT
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