Our furry friends have shown countless times that they can be not only our pets but also our heroes. They are amazing creatures that can be loyal and fearless but also loving and sweet at the same time.
Such heroism has been proven yet again recently in Ukraine. In the middle of the ongoing war, displacing countless people and their beloved pets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored one of the most courageous service members. And that was no other than Patron — a two-year-old bomb-sniffing dog who has been saving countless people’s lives.
On Sunday, the Jack Russell terrier and his handler/owner, Mykhailo Iliev, were awarded a “For Dedicated Service” medal by President Zelenskyy at an awarding ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. The Ukrainian president commended the pair for protecting the lives of several civilians and soldiers from explosive devices.
Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was also present at the awarding ceremony. He and the other people who attended the event witnessed how the brave pooch received the award with a happy smile on his face and a wagging tail.
During the ceremony, President Zelenskyy said that he wanted to award Ukrainian heroes who are now clearing their land of mines. In his speech, he acknowledged how Patron, with other soldiers, helps neutralize explosives and teach children the safety rules in places where a mine threat is present.
Patron became famous in Ukraine after the Russian invasion when officials credited him for helping defuse dozens of explosives ever since the war started. He is indeed a hero — and now, he’s got a medal to prove it.
After the ceremony, the dog’s handler posted on his Instagram, saying that that day would be etched in his memory forever. Indeed, it is such an unforgettable moment — receiving an award from the president with your beloved pooch.
Credits to Patron_dsns