Today in Oslo, Norway Jody Williams and the ICBL launched a new program Sponsor a Mine-Detection Dog

Author/Origin: ICBL (All Photos: Kjell Knudsen/ICBL) icblSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

(Friday 13 September 2002 ) The program will provide support to its member organizations that work to remove landmines around the world.

Lizzie, together with her handler Tom Johansen Fossdal, searches for a landmine burried outside the Norwegian Red Cross office.

During 2002 the money raised from this program will support Norwegian People’s Aid mine detection dog program. The launch took place at the Norwegian Red Cross, where Jody Williams and a dog Lizzie, a 2 year-old Belgian Shepherd, provided a public demonstration, together with her handler Todd Fossdal. Lizzie was trained by NPA in mine detection for deployment in Bosnia. “We are launching this effort as a way to unite the field work our colleagues and these incredible dogs do, saving lives and limbs, with the treaty and the overall movement to eliminate landmines. It is a way to educate people, and supporting these dogs is a terrific way for people to actively contribute to a mine-free world,” said Jody Williams.

On 16 September in Geneva at the United Nations for the opening of the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty Jody and her dog Golda will provide another demonstration. Terje Groth Berntsen, NPA’s dog project manager in Bosnia, will join them in Geneva.

When Jody was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, together with the ICBL, the Swedish group Humanity Dog gave Golda to her as a present. As she was trained to save lives, Jody donated her to NPA. Golda, a seven and a half year old German Shepherd born in Sweden, has worked detecting landmines since September 1998. She has worked in Kosovo, and now she currently works in Bosnia.

Mine detection dogs are trained to identify the various types of explosives found in mines. They help deminers by sniffing the ground slowly and carefully. When they smell explosives they signal to the deminers, who then start their work clearing the land.

Some of the costs involved in training and maintaining a dog include purchasing the dog, the dog handler’s salary, veterinarian bills, dog equipment (leashes, collars, toys), kennels, kennel staff, transportation and training. A mine detection dog working with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in Bosnia-Herzegovina costs approximately $800 per month to maintain.

“School kids from all over have written asking me what they can do about landmines. This is a great way for them to learn about the issue and to do something about it. I tell them they cannot make the world a better place just by wishing it to be so, but they have to get up and do something. Here is a concrete way they can contribute to making the world a safer place. Every donation to support these dogs and their handlers translates into land that is cleared of landmines and returned to communities so that kids in another country can walk without fear,” said Jody.

 

Jody Williams handles Lizzie in the search for the landmine. Lizzie finds the landmine and marks the location by sitting down, waiting happily for her reward. After the hard work Lizzie relaxes with her reward, a red rubber ball. She was always convinced that she was searching for the ball in the ground. After Lizzie has done her job the deminer (Terje Groth Berntsen - NPA) comes in to remove the mine, using a prodder and a small trowel.