George W. Bush (a.k.a. Dubya) and his cappers in India! Part I

K9 tales
Not just President Bush, even the 18 sniffer dogs in his security team are getting the five-star treatment!


Lakshmi Iyer

New Delhi: Eighteen dogs are in India as part of the security team for President George W Bush’s visit.

The Americans chose Hotel Le Meridien to put up six of the sniffer dogs - mainly German Shepherds - along with 80 Secret Service agents and, apparently, demanded equal treatment for both.

THEY ARE NOT DOGS :

"The moment we told them that we cannot treat dogs as clients and allow them to move freely in the lobby, the Americans asked us not to refer to them as dogs but refer to them as their canine unit. The unit has a number and name — K9," said Akhil Mathur, marketing manager, Hotel Le Meridien.

Once the hotel put its foot down, the Americans agreed to adjust their canine units in kennels.

"We have six kennels here," Mathur said. The rest of the canine units are stationed in Maurya Sheraton, which is referred to as ‘the hub’ by the Americans since that is where President Bush is going to be put up.

THEY GOT THEIR OWN FOOD:

Mathur says that his very special guests have not made any special demand in terms of food. "The Americans have made their own arrangement for food for them.

"A hotel spokesman admitted that requests to house dogs were not made during the Clinton visit.

The Americans are not amused by all the attention their canine units are drawing from mediapersons.

“I do not see why so much fuss is being about the Americans bringing along their dogs here. It is not the kind of focus or attention I want for my hotel," Mathur said.

The Mumbai Mirror