FUCZ loses a valuable member: Aska, an explosive detection dog, has passed away

The Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ), in addition to personnel trained for complex protection and rescue operations, also has eight dogs, five trained for mine detection and three dogs for search operations.

Among them was Aska (Betsy), a German Shepherd, who joined the FUCZ POEK team (explosive detection dogs) in May 2009. She was born on July 15, 2007, and trained at the Dog Training Center in Borci near Konjic.

Aska immediately established a friendly relationship with FUCZ members, especially with her handler Alden Ćesko. For almost eight years, she participated in mine clearance operations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a member of the FUCZ POEK team, along with her handler Alden Ćesko, she was the recipient of the prestigious award "Detector Dog Team of the Year 2014" awarded by the Marshall Legacy Institute from Baltimore (United States of America), competing against dogs from mine-affected countries worldwide, including Angola, Sudan, Cambodia, Azerbaijan...

- The competition was intense, and the selection difficult, but Alden and the dog Aska deserved the award due to their exceptional human-dog bond, exemplary work ethic and professionalism, and the excellent results they achieved since 2009, saving and improving the lives of people throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina - it was stated, among other things, in the notification about the award ceremony by the Marshall Legacy Institute.

Thank you, Aska, for your significant contribution to demining operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby saving many lives!