There is an industry holiday for Russian dog breeders. It's called Cynologist’s Day. In Russia, it is celebrated annually on June 21. It has been celebrated for 107 years by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who use dogs to work in the police.
History of occurrence
The proposal on the use of animals in detective work was put forward by the head of the police department in St. Petersburg, V.I. Lebedev in 1906. After 3 years, the opening of the first Russian police dog kennel took place , in the same year a school of trainers appeared. And after 3 years, smart animals began to be used to solve crimes in many provinces of the country.
Dog Day in Russia is celebrated by the military, who work with dogs. The first kennel containing military field dogs was created on the basis of the Izmailovsky Guards regiment in 1912. His wards were preparing for reconnaissance and communications.
In 1920, through the efforts of the NKVD, nursery schools appeared for training criminal search detectives and dog handlers. Such units were also created in the border troops, in the paramilitary guard, in the People’s Commissariat of Railways. So, canine day in Russia is celebrated by people of different professions.
Dogs and war
In the first months of World War II, dog handlers were actively involved in hostilities. Dogs provided uninterrupted communications, blew up enemy tanks, found and took away the wounded, searched for mines, guarded the rear, went into reconnaissance, chased saboteurs and spies, and transported goods.
Dogs now
Today, service dogs are engaged in search and combat activities, they are under the guardianship of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Animals on Dog Day in Russia are awarded with honorary diplomas and prizes.
In Novosibirsk, a monument was erected to a dog, which showed itself remarkably in Chechnya during the counter-terrorist operation, despite the wound. The exceptional merit of smart assistants was also noted in the installation of the monument in the city of Novocherkassk.
June 21 Canine Day is held not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine. Service dogs are used there to guard state and military facilities, maintain public order, identify mines and explosive objects, and perform other
military combat missions.Dogs are considered indispensable helpers in patrol and search activities. They search for and detain armed criminals, and discover with their instincts weapons and drugs. Cynologist’s Day in Ukraine is celebrated by patrol, guard, and mine search services. The most sought after are mine search service animals. They are trained by experienced trainers.
Smart assistants more than once helped people out, often the outcome of the operation depends on the abilities of the animal and the dog handler. In order to improve their professional skills, regional authorities began to conduct all-around competitions with dogs. Experience and teamwork bring together service partners, so it is difficult for the dog handler to part with his beloved animal.