A tiny hero that has been sniffing out danger, one bomb at a time, in Ukraine has become a national icon.
A 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Patron, whose name means ammo, is an unlikely hero. But the small dog has accomplished huge things by sniffing out over 200 bombs and land mines in Ukraine.
His diligent work did not go unnoticed, and he’s now received high honors from Ukrainian President Zelensky for saving lives in the recent Russian invasion.
What is special about Patron is that he didn’t start as a bomb-sniffing dog. He was purchased as a child’s pet by his owner/trainer’s coworker. But the child was busy with lots of school activities, so Patron started to go to work with his dad.
It was then that Patron got his first sniff at explosives detection and it turned out he had a knack for it. He started by learning to react to explosive devices. Then over time, he learned how to find explosive devices and got better and better at it as time passed.
Now, Patron works alongside a team that clears anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The work is very dangerous. Patron doesn’t understand the risks, his small body also helps give him a measure of protection since he doesn’t weigh enough to activate most explosives.
But his entire team certainly weighs enough to accidentally set off an explosion and could easily be maimed or killed. So, they rely on Patron to help keep them safe while demining the country every single day.
Since the start of the war, Patron has helped clear mines over 13,000 thousand miles. They have located over 2000 antitank mines and other explosive devices, including booby traps.
The dog’s hard work helps keep people safe and allows people to travel safely through the country, but it doesn’t appear that it will be over any time soon. When Patron started his training, no one had any idea that one day he would protect so many lives. Today he works 24/7 alongside his handler/trainer to serve and protect his country and keep its citizens safe.
Patron is certainly a good boy, and we pray for his safety as well as for the entire crew. We hope you enjoyed his amazing story. As always, please feel free to share with your friends.
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