This information was provided by the Center for Service Dog Breeding «Strazh» and the Pavlohrad Search and Rescue Canine Unit «Antares».

The 2nd FMBB SAR 2025 Championship for Belgian Shepherd Rescue Dogs took place in Belgium from April 16 to 20 as part of the annual world championship for Belgian Shepherds. 56 participants from 15 countries competed in locating people trapped under debris and in natural environments.

Each category required participants to pass several stages: obedience and agility tests along with the 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 with pride on the international stage. Special congratulations go to our instructor cynologist Daryna Tytarenko and her Belgian Shepherd Haku, who successfully competed. Daryna and Haku earned second place in the «Search Under Debris» and «Obedience Class A» categories.

For the second time in the history of FCI Rescue Championships, the Cup goes to Ukraine – and it is our Daryna with Haku who brought this victory home!», proudly reports «Strazh».

Fourth place in the «Search Under Debris, Level B» category was claimed by 19-year-old Mariia Romanova from Pavlohrad and her dog Pulya.

Meanwhile, Iryna Shvets and her canine Natsu from Kyiv, representing the SarCan rescue team, secured fifth place in the «Search in Natural Environment, Level B» category.

It is worth mentioning that the four-legged assistants of Odesa rescuers participated in the rescue operation under the rubble of a residential building on Dobrovolskyi Avenue, where on March 2, 2024, a Russian strike drone destroyed an entire entrance of a nine-story building, burying 12 people under the debris.