Police in western Japan's Ehime Prefecture have appointed pet dogs and their owners to go on community safety patrols.
The police station overseeing the cities of Matsuyama and Toon commissioned 41 dogs and 34 owners to make the patrols. Six teams took part in a ceremony on Monday.
The local police chief asked them to report accidents or anything suspicious seen while walking or going shopping.
One of the pet owners said he'll keep an eye out for car accidents when it's getting dark, as that's a time when drivers might miss high-school students on bicycles.
One police officer said the canine patrols and their handlers can play an especially big role in blind spots not covered by security cameras.