SWEDISH DOG-TRAINING CENTRE OFFERS CROATIA HELP IN DEMINING

SISAK, March 19 (Hina) - Representatives of the Swedish dog- training centre Hundskolan on Monday visited the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) in Sisak, where they informed HCR director Damir Gorseta and the Croatian foreign minister's advisor on anti- mine activities, Dijana Plestina, about the possibility of using specially trained dogs in humanitarian de-mining. According to a statement from the HCR, Hundskolan director Anders Bruse announced the beginning of drawing up a feasibility study which would determine the needs and potential for the training of dogs for humanitarian demining purposes. As the Swedish centre trains about 100 dogs per year and has a 70- year-long tradition of dog breeding and training, HCR director Gorseta expressed full support for their participation in the process of humanitarian demining in Croatia. If the feasibility study yields positive results, Hundskolan will set up an organisation in Croatia for the training of dogs and dog handlers, in which Croatian companies and organisations will have shares as well. The drawing up of the study is expected to take some two months, after which further steps will be made toward setting up such a centre. (hina) rml