This was reported by the Canine Service Center "Guardian" and the Pavlograd Search and Rescue Dog Unit "Sirius".

The 2nd FMBB SAR Championship for Belgian Shepherd Rescue Dogs took place from April 16 to 20 in Belgium as part of the annual multidisciplinary world championship. A total of 56 participants from 15 countries competed in their ability to locate victims under debris and in natural environments.

Each category required participants to go through several stages: obedience and agility tests, plus a search stage.

The Ukrainian team was represented by canine units from the National Club of Belgian Shepherd Owners "Canine Union of Ukraine" based in Pavlograd, Odessa, and Kyiv.

"The Ukrainian team displayed an impressive level of training and professionalism, proudly representing our country on the international stage. Special congratulations to our instructor Darina Tytarenko and her Belgian Shepherd Haku, who successfully competed in the championship. Darina and Haku secured 2nd place in the categories of 'Search in Technogenic Debris' and 'Obedience' Class A.

For the second time in the history of FCI Search and Rescue Championships, the Cup is heading to Ukraine – and it was our Darina with Haku who brought this victory home!", – proudly announces "Guardian".

19-year-old Maria Romanova from Pavlograd and her dog Pulya earned 4th place in the category of 'Search in Technogenic Debris, Level B'.

Meanwhile, Iryna Shvets and her trainee Natsu from Kyiv, representing the SarCan rescue team, took 5th place in the category of 'Search in Natural Environment, Level B'.

Interestingly, the four-legged assistants of Odessa's State Emergency Service participated in a rescue operation under the debris of a residential building on Dobrovolskyi Avenue when a Russian strike drone destroyed an entire entrance of a nine-story building on March 2, 2024, burying 12 people under the rubble.