Cats and dogs helping Ukrainians deal with the ravages of war

A few cats and dogs are helping Ukrainians deal with the perils of war.

The Russia/Ukraine war has been a terrible ordeal for the citizens involved, but yet again it is in man’s best friend that citizens can find reprieve.

Not only are our beloved cats and dogs great for a cuddle now and again and for being there when we need them, but as we’ve learned through the years, they can even help sniff out certain illnesses that may come up, and as it turns out are great for sniffing out explosives as well.

Meet two such heroes, a dog and a cat, that are helping Ukrainians deal with the perils and ravages of war…

So as it turns out, they happen to be great allies in times of war as well. A piece published over at bbc.com shows us that certain dogs and cats are doing their part in helping to boost morale and even in helping keep people safe during this terrible period of war.

One such hero, reports the BBC, is none other than Patron, a dog that helps “sniff out” and warn of explosives and mine bombs. As it turns out, he also has quite the following on social media, he was featured on official stamps for Ukraine’s official postal service, and he even has a line of cartoons that are publicly released and help boost morale.

It is through these social media accounts that Patron and other real-life animals (and some fictionalized) are reaching those that have been affected by the war.

Mykhaylo Ilyev, who owns and handles Patron from day to day, had this to say about the animals that are such a help to all involved:

"“Our little friends are going through a rough time after being abandoned or injured. We realize that they also want to live and that they need help…”"

Even Patron himself offers some words of encouragement, as his social media posts read:

"“Hope matters. We hope that this will be over soon. We hope that victory is near. We hope that people won’t be killed anymore. Sometimes hope is all we’ve got…Don’t lose hope, I’m begging you. Now, let me give you a hopeful lick!”"

A cat that goes by the name of Stepan is yet another influencer doing her part to help those affected. The kitten had an already successful social media presence but as the ravages of war started to take a toll, he too started commenting on the war and this presence started to have a positive effect.

Anna, Stepan’s owner, had this to say on the matter:

"“We’ve all changed mentally after seeing what sort of thing this ‘Russian world’ really is…Ukrainian is part of my life and the life of my country and nation…He has been offering support to people, particularly children, so that they can forget the horrors of this war at least for a little while. That’s why there is a bit of humour in his posts…”"

How do dogs and cats sniff out explosives?

According to a piece published over at priceonomics.com, the components in a bomb are a lot like the ingredients one uses in baking. Well, a small amount of ingredients can also be found in explosives, which one trainer of bomb-sniffing dogs pointed out, and if a dog is trained to smell those ingredients in particular, all bombs in their path should be found and avoided.

So go ahead and follow both Patron and Stepan, and see what they’re up to next, dear readers.