Economic Growth Sri Lanka Project #9015

Train Dogs to "Sniff Out" Landmines & Save Lives

by The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI)

Project Report | Jun 10, 2013
Mine Detection Dogs Saving Lives in Azerbaijan

By Tycie Horsley | Development Director

MDD Danik "sniffing out" landmines in Azerbaijan

The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) has been assisting Azerbaijan in its mine clearance efforts since 2005, helping the country free its land of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), as a result of the armed conflict with Armenia between 1988-1994. Despite much progress in removing the mines since the ceasefire in 1994, according to the Landmine Monitor and Cluster Munition Report, it is estimated that there are still tens of thousands of mines contaminating hundreds of square kilometers.

During the past eight years, MLI has donated twenty-four highly skilled Mine Detection Dogs (MDDs) to the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA). Although some of the MDDs have retired from work or passed on from old age, the active MDDs Akela, Alma, Beti, Brownie, Canto, Danik, Dexter, Donohue, Duco, Fowler, Gaga, Gavran, Guru, Lipscomb, Marcos, Mojca, and Tessa were incredible assets during 2012, returning more than 1.8 million square meters - the equivalent of 460 acres - of land to the people of Azerbaijan. This is truly an incredible accomplishment for the MDD component and for demining operations. Their work has allowed thousands of people to return to their homes, grow crops, herd animals, go to school, and live, work and play on the land without fear.

ANAMA has effectively and efficiently used the MDD component to survey suspected hazardous areas and provide quality assurance to areas checked by other demining tools. Most recently, the MDD teams worked in Agcabadi, Fizuli, Goranboy, and Terter districts, where hundreds of square kilometers are extensively contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). In just the past two months, these life-saving dogs and their handlers have searched more than 400,000 square meters of mine-contaminated land.

Since 2005, MLI's MDDs have searched more than 17 million square meters, or 29,084 acres, of mine contaminated land in Azerbaijan! In 2013, five of these life-saving MDDs will retire and, in partnership with the ITF: Enhancing Human Security and the Korean Government, MLI is pleased to honor ANAMA's request for five replacement MDDs. These dogs recently arrived in Azerbaijan to be paired with their new handlers and complete their training. Each of the retiring MDDs is being adopted by their long-time handlers and will live out the rest of their lives in the comfort that they deserve after such heroic work!

Searching for mines in Azerbaijan

Links:

Permalink

Feb 7, 2013
Mine Detection Dogs - Saving Lives in Afghanistan

By Tycie Horsley | Development Director

MDD Stryker "sniffs out" mines in Afghanistan

MLI has donated 183 Mine Detection Dogs to 11 war-torn countries around the world. Over the past five years, MLI has given 28 of these life-saving dogs to four indigenous demining organizations in Afghanistan, which has suffered from more than three decades of war and is one of the most heavily mine-affected countries in the world. In 2012, these amazing dogs searched more than 550 acres of land, impacting tens of thousands of lives, and saving countless people and animals from death or injury.

MLI's focus is on building practical, sustainable, indigenous programs, and so we always partner with local organizations when working in a mine-affected country. In Afghanistan, the demining organization, DAFA, has received nine of MLI's mine detection dogs. DAFA recently shared some stories they collected from a number of Afghan villagers who described how much the MDDs have impacted their lives. The villagers explained that in their district of Deh Sabz, the primary source of income for individuals is agriculture, but severe droughts often make that a difficult livelihood. Because of that, they had resorted to working for a low daily wage in a nearby market to supplement their income.

The surrounding mountains are filled with precious and semi-precious stones that could potentially be mined on a small scale by the villagers, which was a very tempting new source of income, but until recently, the entire area was heavily contaminated by landmines. Last year, DAFA and the dog teams were able to clear the area of the mines, enabling the villagers to immediately begin collecting some of the precious stones. They shared that they now have a "considerable monthly income compared to the daily wage work, and now 30 households are being supported through this new form of work." Among these workers, a man named Safiullah shared his personal tragedy, saying: "My elder brother was not aware of the mine threats in and around this mountain and unknowingly came here to attempt to gather some of the stones. But while he was walking, he accidentally set off a mine, causing an enormous explosion that killed him on the spot. My poor brother didn't know that he was looking for rocks at the cost of his life. Several other landmine accidents happened in this area after the death of my brother, including a young boy who stepped on a mine while collecting brush for fire, and many cattle who have been killed from explosions. With the clearance of this area, we get a sense of safety and can walk around freely. Now we are living a peaceful and prosperous life."

Formerly mine-contaminated land in Afghanistan

MDD Toby locating mines in Afghanistan

Links:

Permalink

Nov 2, 2012
Sniffing out Mines and Saving Lives

By Tycie Horsley | Development Director

MDD Charlie with his handler

Over the past 15 years, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) has donated 182 life-saving mine detection dogs to war-torn countries. By donating these highly trained MDDs to the neediest of countries, while also training & equipping local dog handlers to safely and effectively employ the MDDs in national landmine clearance programs, MLI has helped to greatly accelerate mine clearance around the world. Each year, MLI's amazing dog teams "sniff out" millions of square meters of land and, by expediting the rate at which land is cleared, they not only save lives, but also positively impact the socio-economic growth of fragile post-conflict countries and the likelihood that these countries will remain at peace.

Several years ago, MLI donated MDDs Charlie and Granite to EKO Dem, a small non-profit demining organization headquartered in Banja Luka, Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH). During 2011, these two life-saving dogs and their handlers cleared 54,410 square meters of land, including villages and agricultural land, which can now be used safely by the Bosnian people. Just last month, these two teams completed a demining task in Olovo, BiH. Since the war in Bosnia ended, more than 60 people have been injured or killed by landmines in Olovo. Tragically, just a few weeks before the teams began their work in August 2012, a six year old boy in Olovo was killed as he was gathering wood with his father. Today, thanks to the work of MDDs Charlie and Granite, and their brave handlers, future tragedies in Olovo have been averted and the people of Olovo can safely use their land.

MDDs Charlie and Granite:

When MDDs Charlie and Granite are not "sniffing out" mines and saving lives, both dogs live with their handlers, who are brothers, on a ranch in BiH, where they have ample opportunity to run around and play on the vast property. Their handlers, Dragoslav and Ostoja Arapovic, developed their love of dogs as children and say they are nearly inseparable from MDDs Granite and Charlie.

Ostoja, the elder brother, has been a dog handler and dog trainer for 13 years and has been MDD Granite's handler since 2009. Dragoslav became interested in dog handling and became a MDD handler in 2005, the same year that MDD Charlie was donated to EKO Dem. This dynamic duo have been together ever since and spend nearly all of their time together, exercising and playing.

Dragoslav and Ostoja described both dogs as "excellent" with a keen desire to work, making them very focused, and exceedingly good mine detectors. Dragoslav added that MDD Charlie, who is a very large German Shepherd, has an extremely gentle personality, which is in contrast to his rather intimidating stature!

MLI extends our sincere thanks to all of our donors who support our Mine Detection Dog program, which enables MDDs like Charlie and Granite to save tens of thousands of lives in countries around the world. Thank you for your support!

MDD Charlie with his handler.2

MDD Granite "sniffing out" mines

MDD Charlie "sniffing out" mines in Olovo

MDD Granite

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.