A New Era for Canine Services in Ukraine
A newly constructed canine center of the National Police of Ukraine has officially opened in the Kyiv region. The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko, Head of National Police Ivan Vyhivskyi, and American philanthropist Howard Buffett, who funded the center's construction.
During the opening, attendees explored the new center's facilities, including the administrative building, training grounds, and veterinary complex. The center is equipped to efficiently train service dogs and support canine officers.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized the project's significance for improving infrastructure and safety in Ukraine. She noted that the new center will play a crucial role in addressing the aftermath of war, facilitating rapid demining and restoring life in urban areas.
She also expressed gratitude to police officers for their service in canine divisions, highlighting their contributions to creating a safe environment.
The new center is notable for its accessibility for individuals with disabilities, featuring an elevator and facilities designed for wheelchair movement. Additionally, it plans to introduce canine therapy for veterans undergoing rehabilitation.
A state-of-the-art veterinary clinic for service dogs has been established, providing a wide range of services. For the first time in Ukraine, an Aqua-runner—a special treadmill for animal rehabilitation—has been introduced.
The former canine center was destroyed in the early days of the war, but the new facility aims to restore operations with enhanced capabilities.
Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko expressed gratitude to Howard Buffett for supporting canine units and noted that the capabilities of canine officers have significantly increased during the war.
Since the war began, the National Police's canine divisions have conducted thousands of missions, solving many criminal cases and detecting explosive devices.
Howard Buffett also expressed his support for law enforcement, underlining the importance of their work in ensuring public safety.
At the end of the event, a bronze sculpture depicting a canine officer with a dog and a child was unveiled, symbolizing the commitment to serving and protecting civilians.
