Celebrating the Achievements of Ukrainian Canine Teams at International Competitions
This was reported by the Center for Service Dog Breeding "Strazh" and the Pavlohrad Search and Rescue Canine Unit "Antares".
The 2nd FMBB SAR 2025 Belgian Shepherd Rescue Championship took place from April 16 to 20 in Belgium, featuring 56 participants from 15 countries competing in the ability to locate victims under rubble and in natural environments.
Each category required participants to go through several stages: obedience testing and agility, plus a search stage.
The Ukrainian team consisted of canine units from Pavlohrad, Odesa, and Kyiv, members of the National Club of Belgian Shepherd Dog Owners "Canine Union of Ukraine".
"The Ukrainian team showcased a high level of training and professionalism, representing our country with pride on the international stage. We extend special congratulations to our instructor dog handler Daryna Tytarenko and her Belgian Shepherd Haku, who successfully competed. Daryna and Haku achieved 2nd place in the categories 'Search in Technogenic Ruins' and 'Obedience' Class A.
This marks the second time in the history of the FCI Search and Rescue Championships that the Cup goes to Ukraine – and it was Daryna and Haku who brought this victory home!", proudly reports "Strazh".
19-year-old Maria Romanova from Pavlohrad and her dog Pulya secured 4th place in the 'Search in Technogenic Ruins, Level B' category.
Iryna Shvets and her trainee Natsu from Kyiv, representing the SarCan search and rescue team, placed 5th in the 'Search in Natural Environment, Level B' category.
Interestingly, the four-legged assistants of Odesa rescuers from the State Emergency Service participated in the rescue operation under the rubble 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 debris.
