India, Aug. 23 -- For a police dog, retirement is usually more than hanging up the leash. After a decade of chasing leads, sniffing out explosives and tracking suspects, many struggle with retired life, and adjusting to adoptive parents.

But Maharashtra's police dogs may no longer have to leave the force they served so loyally. The state government has decided to work out a system that will allow retired dogs to spend their final years with their police family, especially their handlers with whom they have formed deep bonds.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state's home minister, has asked the administration to prepare a post-retirement plan for these canines.

The decision comes after the home department submitted a re...