The dogs saving lives on Iraq's deadly minefields
manchestereveningnews.co.ukOn a dry, dusty minefield in northern Iraq, mine detection dog Jota is hard at work. The six-year-old Belgian Shepherd moves forwards purposefully in a straight line, nose pointed to the ground.
Behind him, handler Beston Farhad keeps a tight leash, watching his dog’s every move. Then, he stops dead. He has found something.
Minutes later, Beston removes a VS-50 landmine from the ground in front of where Jota halted, carefully excavating it from the dirt before using the sides of the mine to move it until he can remove the detonator.
The whole time, Jota sits patiently waiting. Beston briefly holds his hand in the air to signify the successful deactivation, before the pair continue along the minefield. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Beston and Jota are one of nine man and dog duos working with Manchester-based charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Kurdish Iraq.
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