Ukrainian Canine Teams Shine at International Championship

This was reported by the Service Dog Center «Strazh» and the Pavlohrad Search and Rescue Canine Unit «Antares».

The 2nd FMBB SAR 2025 Championship for Belgian Shepherd Rescue Dogs took place from April 16 to 20 in Belgium as part of the annual World Championship for Belgian Shepherds. A total of 56 participants from 15 nations competed in their ability to locate trapped individuals both under man-made debris and in natural environments.

Competitors needed to complete several stages in each category: obedience and agility tests along with a search phase.

The Ukrainian team was represented by canine units from the National Club of Belgian Shepherd Owners «Canine Union of Ukraine» from Pavlohrad, Odesa, and Kyiv.

«The Ukrainian team showcased a high level of training and professionalism, representing our country admirably on the international stage. Special congratulations to our instructor-canine trainer Daryna Tytarenko and her Belgian Shepherd Haku, who performed successfully in the competition. Daryna and Haku earned 2nd place in the «Search in man-made debris» and «Obedience, Class A» categories.

For the second time in the history of FCI rescue championships, the Cup is coming to Ukraine, and it was Daryna and Haku who brought this victory home!», – proudly reports «Strazh».

19-year-old Mariya Romanova from Pavlohrad and her dog Pulya secured 4th place in the category of «Search in man-made debris, Level B».

Meanwhile, Iryna Shvets and her protégé Natsyu from Kyiv, representing the SarCan rescue team, took 5th place in the «Search in natural environments, Level B» category.

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