In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are only a few search dogs that actively participate in rescue operations, but only one has what sets it apart on an institutional and operational level – an international license for searching for people in nature and ruins. At the Mountain Rescue Service in Bijeljina, we met Kia, a specialized dog trained to search for people.
A hero dog in action
This is Kia – a hero dog. Her ability to find human traces in inaccessible terrain makes her unique in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Behind her every reaction are months of training, as well as precise coordination with her handler.
Every minute can be crucial – a second that can mean hours of searching, but also someone’s life. After a few moments of training, a bark followed, a sign that the trace had been found.
Training begins and inspiration from Turkey
“We got Kia in February 2025, when she was two months old, and the very idea to go down that path was born after the earthquake in Turkey, where we were and realized the importance of search dogs, because despite all the technology and progress in the 21st century, no device can detect a person under ten meters of rubble like a dog can,” says Nenad Jovanović, a member of the Bijeljina GSS.
Training, dedication and unique status
This was followed by training, seminars and numerous training sessions. Time, money and great dedication were invested, but above all love, so that Kia reached the level of readiness for demanding missions. A special incentive was also provided by the initiative of the “Pomozi.ba” Foundation, launched after the disaster in Jablanica, when it became clear that Bosnia and Herzegovina lacked trained dogs to search for living people.
“On that occasion, GSS coach Dejan Ševković supported us and prepared us for taking the exam. After that, we continued to train and take exams independently, and Kia became the only one in BiH that has the authority to search for living people in the ruins and nature”, said Nenad Jovanović.
Cooperation with institutions and future plans
Kia stands side by side with the best search dogs in Europe, and the key to success is a strong bond between dog and handler.
“We sent a notice to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Civil Protection so that they know what we have at our disposal and that we will make ourselves available wherever and whenever needed. I would like Kia not to remain the only search dog in BiH. If he just finds a man or a child once, all our work pays off,” said Jovanović.
And while in our country these silent heroes are rarely talked about, Kia remains a reminder that the greatest victories are not celebrated with noise, but with invention, Federalna writes.
