Search dogs are the first to come to the rescue

Nomination "Responsible for those": the main task of the "Spasatel" cynological center is searching for people: missing, trapped under rubble, avalanches, and also deceased, including on the water.

The work of search and rescue dogs is invaluable. When buildings collapse after earthquakes, these dogs are the first to get under the rubble to find those who are still breathing. When a person gets lost in the forest or mountains, dogs spend hours tracking the scent until they find them alive. When an elderly person with memory loss or dementia goes missing, these dogs help bring them back home.

Founded in 2019 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the "Spasatel" (Rescue) K9 Training Center traces its origins to a legendary German Shepherd named Barkhan. This charismatic dog was defined by his sharp intellect, keen scent, and an unstoppable drive for finding people, which served as his primary motivation.

The first major challenge for Barkhan was the search for a missing elderly woman in Bishkek. 'After several days of fruitless searching, the police turned to the German Shepherd's owner, Elena Gatyzhskaya, for help,' reported the 24.kg news agency. Barkhan accurately retraced the woman's route, showing exactly where she had stopped, sat down, and turned. When the scent abruptly went cold, it became clear that she had been driven away in a vehicle. Later, the missing woman's body was found.

Following that case, a request came in to search for a missing child, and Barkhan once again proved to be a natural-born search dog. 'It was after these milestone operations, having witnessed Barkhan's immense capabilities, that the decision was made to officially establish a volunteer search and rescue K9 center,' shared Elena Gatyzhskaya, chairperson of the 'Spasatel' K9 Center.

Later, Barkhan fathered a daughter named LiSa, who not only inherited but actually surpassed her father’s tracking talents. Beyond wilderness tracking and searching through avalanches and collapsed structures, the long-haired beauty could locate the bodies of drowning victims by scent alone. For six years, this unique duo served as the primary backbone of the center. The K9 handlers and their dogs responded to calls from both desperate relatives and official requests from the police and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They even took part in a manhunt for escaped prisoners, a day on which Barkhan saved many lives. LiSa was just as remarkable: she tracked people missing in the mountains, assisted in solving a murder investigation, and recovered drowning victims from treacherous mountain rivers.

In 2023, when a devastating earthquake struck Turkey, Barkhan and LiSa took part in the rescue mission and found two children alive under the rubble.

Regrettably, in 2025, 12-year-old Barkhan and 6-year-old LiSa passed away, leaving behind a monumental legacy. Together, they had saved and located more than 50 people.

Today, the 'Spasatel' Center is a well-coordinated team, ready to deploy for search operations across all regions of Kyrgyzstan. The team consists of 4 professional K9 handlers and 3 working dogs—all-around rescue experts named Safi, Tilya, and Only, ranging from 7 months to 7 years old. These highly intelligent, stress-resilient, and human-oriented female dogs possess phenomenal endurance, a passion for tracking, and the ability to make independent decisions in extreme situations.

Safi (Gambi Moravia Artex) was brought from the Czech Republic in March of this year. According to Elena, after LiSa's passing, a post from a working dog kennel appeared on social media, showcasing a litter of German Shepherd puppies. 'The moment I saw her, I knew she was born for me. Puppies from this lineage are usually reserved long before birth, so I didn't stand a chance. But my colleagues convinced me to write to the breeder anyway. To my shock, Safi was the only one available. Everyone at the center agreed instantly—we had to reserve her. For three months, we tried to find a safe way to transport the puppy from Prague to Bishkek while raising the necessary funds. It was three months of complete desperation, with rejections at every turn. Even the breeder grew weary and was about to cancel. But then, a message arrived from a Slovak carrier: "Tickets have been bought for Safi; meet her in two days." I wasn't wrong in my choice: Safi truly embodies Barkhan and LiSa in one. Despite her young age, she has already helped locate a missing child in a mountain river,' shared the chairperson of the center.

Tilda is just a small mutt. Her story didn't begin with a sunny morning and kind hands. The start of her life was a journey through darkness and pain. 'As a tiny pup, she ended up at a veterinary clinic to be put down. With a slashed paw, completely alone with her pain, in the dead of night…,' Elena shared.

Fortunately, the veterinarians refused to end the helpless puppy's life. They treated her and found her a home with a rescue handler. Nimble, intelligent, curious, and fearless, Tilda proved herself from her very first days. 'She absorbs the basics of training and search work like a sponge. She is full of intellect, fire, energy, and determination. A small dog with the character of a big Malinois. Now, Tilya—having been thrown a lifeline herself—is learning so that in the future, she can help those who are lost, frightened, and in distress,' the K9 handler emphasized.

The German Shepherd, Only, was brought from Kazakhstan. The four-legged rescuer already has 9 search operations and 5 people found alive to her credit.

The K9 center specializes in the most challenging search categories. 'The core profile of our deployments is rescuing the most vulnerable populations: individuals with mental and health conditions (such as dementia, autism, and memory loss), and children lost in both urban and natural environments. Behind every deployment of the "Spasatel" K9 Center are saved lives and a level of professionalism that all began thanks to one faithful dog,' Elena noted.

Photos from the personal archive of Elena Gatyzhskaya.