PAWS IN THE AIR

The colorful fantasy of Indian summer, slowly transitioning into autumn, stuns its admirers with an endless spectrum of beauty. The azure sky, overflowing with sunlight, crowned the past beautiful weekend, which was extended by the Czech statehood holiday. The roar of the uncoronated king of the South Bohemian forests – the European elk – is slowly quieting, and the voice of the following rut of the fallow deer is already heard. The hundred-strong herds of these magnificent animals, living in independent symbiosis just a few dozen meters from Londonka, are certainly not disturbed by the intensively training members of the rescue training courses in the rescue area.

The regular October K9 Rescue CZ training camp culminated this time at the airport in Soběslav with the final flight of twenty participants, where the Antonov An 22 was already waiting for them. The sport contribution of this event was mainly in training the dogs' resilience to noise, staying in confined spaces, and especially the tolerance of other living creatures when their own comfort zone is disturbed. The flight itself usually doesn’t cause any problems for the rescue dogs, and they mostly enjoy being in various means of transport. The noise of the started sports plane or helicopter, however, is a significant factor, which a weaker individual would likely handle less well. The popular noisy An-22 was actually a common means of transport for dog handlers to the intervention site in the past. Currently, a significant percentage of young dogs are part of the K9R membership, so it was very pleasing to find that none of them had any problem with being in the air. On the contrary, their enthusiasm, visible already during boarding in the engine noise, reminded us of the well-known fact of endorphin transfer from positively oriented handlers to their four-legged partners. Happiness hormones are the targeted and most desired guides of the human-dog symbiosis, and their release caused by active contact, triggered by almost any type of training, can undoubtedly be pure happiness for both participants. The still strong rays of the incredibly beautiful Indian summer not only create the most beautiful environment but also provide the most productive foundation for the growth and spread of these happiness hormones. Equally beautiful moments are experienced when observing the majestic fallow deer and elk in the game reserve adjacent to Londonka.

Nature is fantastic and deserves protection in all its forms. Human interventions must be carried out with great sensitivity and consideration for all of its inhabitants. The sight of a soaring sea eagle is so fascinating that a report about its shooting down is equivalent to a crime. How is it even possible to commit such an act? I am fortunate to have been part of the rescue community since 1972, and we are definitely on the opposite end of this murderous species spectrum. And I really like people who think the same way as I do, and despite many, sometimes too frequent adversities, sail with me on the same boat. Good navigation, goodbye…