The approval of the Tiradentes Medal for Hulk, a Belgian Malinois shepherd from the Canine Action Battalion (BAC) of the Military Police, caused controversy in the plenary of the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerj) this Thursday (28). The unprecedented tribute will transform the sniffer dog into the first animal to receive the main honor granted by the Rio Parliament.
Hulk gained notoriety after participating in an operation in the Complexo da Maré favela in April, when he helped police locate the hiding place of approximately 48 tons of marijuana. The seizure was considered the largest ever recorded in the country for this type of drug.
Despite the recognition of the animal's role in security operations, lawmakers questioned the format of the tribute and argued that the medal should be awarded to the battalion, not specifically to the dog.
Unprecedented recognition
The approved proposal was co-authored by Representatives Rodrigo Amorim and Marcelo Dino, both from the PL party, as well as Sarah Poncio (Solidariedade). None of the three were present in the plenary session. The text advocates for the official recognition of the work performed by animals used in public safety operations.
During the discussion, Representative Luiz Paulo (PSD) stated that the tribute should encompass the entire corporation responsible for the training and operation of police dogs.
“I am the author of the Animal Code along with Carlos Minc (PSB), and I confess that it’s impossible not to fall in love with a dog. But Hulk the dog is being awarded a medal, but this honor should be for the Battalion. The dog has sensitivity and would perceive it. In fact, the medal is for institutions and people,” he argued, saying that he will make this request to the awarding authorities.
Congresswoman Martha Rocha (PDT) agreed with the parliamentarian's position and also defended that the honor should be directed to the Military Police's BAC. "I want to agree with Luiz Paulo. The fact is that all the unit's employees should be honored with this commendation," she stated.
Plenary debate
The vote revealed disagreements among parliamentarians regarding the criteria for awarding the Tiradentes Medal. The PT (Workers' Party) caucus, in turn, chose to abstain during the vote.
In the project's justification, the authors also cited international examples of dogs that have received honors for services rendered in security and rescue operations.
Among the cases mentioned are Hurricane, from the United States Secret Service; Theo, from the British Army; Léuk, from the French Special Forces; and Pickles, known worldwide for locating the stolen World Cup trophy before the 1966 World Cup.
Operation in Maré
Hulk's involvement occurred during an operation considered strategic by security forces in the Complexo da Maré. According to the project's authors, the dog indicated the presence of hidden drugs in an area used by traffickers, allowing agents to find tons of marijuana concealed in the community.
For proponents of the honor, the awarding of the medal also symbolizes recognition of the joint work between military police officers and animals trained for special operations, which are involved in combating trafficking, searches, and rescues.
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