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S42E16: Saving the Animals of Ukraine | Clip

Meet Patron, the Adorable Bomb-Sniffing Dog

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Meet Patron, the bomb-detecting Jack Russell Terrier who has saved countless lives. His exceptional sense of smell and small size make him a great fit for his newfound career as a bomb-sniffing dog.

TRANSCRIPT

- Even before February 21st, Ukraine was among the least of countries with a high level of contamination by the landmines.

And right now, Ukraine is leading the world in this situation.

- [Narrator] In these fields are thousands of bombs, shells and grenades waiting to explode.

Places where farmers used to grow food have become minefields that will take years to clear.

That's where Patron comes in.

In Ukrainian, the word patron means bullet.

This is one fast dog.

And he loves to dig and dig and dig.

He can easily dig all day long, but his most outstanding superpower is his exceptional sense of smell, especially in his newfound career as a bomb sniffing dog.

Patron's training began with getting accustomed to the sound of explosions, along with the smell of gunpowder.

He passed with flying colors.

Within a short period, he had traded in fetching sticks and slippers for sleuthing out explosive objects, even explosives hidden deep in the ground.

But what sets Patron apart from the typical bomb sniffing dogs?

His size.

Patron has his own built-in protection from landmines.

At 4.5 kilograms, or nine pounds, his low weight ensures that even if he were to walk over a mine, nothing would happen.

It takes a minimum of five kilograms, or 10 pounds, to trigger a landmine.

Patron's compact frame removes the constant threat of detonation.