”They save lives. They are irreplaceable. Yesterday was their day. The day of search dogs, the day of Smeki and Ela.”
This was announced yesterday by the Sarajevo Mountain Rescue Service, recalling how the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization (IRO) declared International Search and Rescue Dog Day in 2008.
Since then, that day has been celebrated every year on the last Sunday in April.
To recall, specially trained dogs, which took an active role in search and rescue operations after the devastating February earthquakes in Turkey, saved many lives under the ruins. They are trained for search and rescue when they are still puppies and can work until the age of ten.
Among the dog heroes in Turkey, there were also three dogs of the Mountain Rescue Service in our country – Smeki, Ela, and Atos.
As it was announced earlier, their performance on the field was 100 percent.
Good luck Smeki, Ela, and Atos! Good luck to all the heroic paws!