Boss is a Jack Russell weighing barely four kilos. But as small as he is, this dog is a true war hero. Recognizable by the bulletproof vest hanging on its back, the animal valiantly travels through the most dangerous terrain in Ukraine to spot mines and bombs that have not yet exploded, so that deminers can neutralize them. But on Wednesday June 1, Patron had a completely different mission. He went to St Nicholas Children’s Hospitalin Lviv .
A surprise visit that did a lot of good for hospitalized children
With stars in their eyes, the injured children of the pediatric hospital welcomed Patron with open arms.
The therapeutic virtues of animals no longer need to be proven. Dogs in particular bring a lot of comfort to people suffering from certain pathologies. But when the animal is also a war hero, the emotion of meeting it is only increased tenfold.
During his visit, Patron had an educational role by reminding the children of certain safety rules regarding explosive devices. But above all it boosted the morale of all the injured. Hospital officials testified to the smiles found on the children’s faces, as reported in the Métro newspaper : “ Such visits are important to improve health and mood, so we thank the extraordinary [Boss] for such a surprise. ”
Patron notably met the young Jana , who had both legs amputated at the knees, during a Russian missile strike in April.
Boss received a medal for his national service
The Jack Russell rose to fame after receiving a national honor from Volodymyr Zelensky . The Ukrainian president presented him with a medal for his national service. It must be said that Patron helped the deminers identify more than 200 land mines and unexploded bombs.
Patron’s size and personality make him the perfect dog for mine clearance.
If Patron was chosen for a mission of such importance, it is no coincidence. First of all, this Jack Russell is a very calm dog. The sounds of explosions do not make him react. This serenity is essential to being on a war field.
But Patron also has a major advantage. Or rather weight. Because with its four kilos, the dog does not trigger the mines on which it steps. It generally takes a force of more than 5kg for mines to explode. The Jack Russell is therefore perfectly cut out for its mission. But he also needs to rest a little, because this work requires a lot of energy.
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