Patron
There appears to be a degree of confusion relating to the exact translation regarding the word Patron, however, I am sure that this will in no way detract from the story.
The most popular appear to be; bullet, ammo and cartridge.
His job is one of the most dangerous in the world, so dangerous that he always wears his monogrammed bulletproof jacket in public. Not that it will save his life, but one momentary mistake will be fatal. He inspires a nation and has received awards for bravery. In his country, he is a legend in his own lifetime, and it’s fair to say not many achieve such exalted status. He is employed by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. His job is to detect mines and unexploded ordinance. He has discovered hundreds which have been defused, thus saving lives and preventing hideous injuries. What makes him unique is that the risk of getting it wrong is magnified by the fact he has four legs, not two. Obviously, having four legs on the ground doubles the risk of stepping on a mine, although it has been argued that only weighing in at 5-6 Kilos (11-13 Pounds) he is less likely to trigger an explosion!! He is considered to be one of the smallest mine detection personnel in the world. He has become an internet sensation.
His name is Patron
He is a Jack Russell terrier dog, and his name is Patron
He was born on the 20th of July 2019 in the city of Chernihiv and was acquired by Mykhailo “Misha” lliev, a bomb disposal technician. Patron was originally intended as a gift to the man’s son, but Mykhailo discovered early that his newly acquired pet had, in fact, a natural ability to find explosives, so his training began in earnest, and his success rate is phenomenal.
So, our vertically challenged canine has now cemented his place in history. At the moment, he is immortalised in paintings, soft toys and photographs, and of course, the favourite photo is Patron urinating on a Russian missile. In the future, when this madness is over, I have no doubt that Patron will eventually be the subject of a movie.
Apart from his military career, Patron also does his bit for morale as when off duty, he is a regular visitor at a children’s hospital in Kyiv and of course, in the modern world of social media, he is a dream asset as his story has gone viral. On a practical level, he is invaluable when it comes to teaching children about the dangers of unexploded ordinance. They might listen to an adult, but they definitely listen to an adult accompanied by a four-legged national hero.
Awards
Among his many accolades are:
On the 5th of May 2022, the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs announced the International Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Demining with Patron as its mascot.
He was awarded the “Order for Courage” third class presented by Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy.
He has met world leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, among others and has been introduced to American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken plus an array of ambassadors.
He has appeared on a special edition of postage stamps. (Wonder what they will be worth in the years to come?)
His image appears on posters warning of the presence of suspicious packages with the introduction of: “Patron warns…
“Palm Dog” award for humanitarian work given by the Cannes Film Festival.
His work was recognised by UNICEF for World Children’s Day.
In January 2023, a YouTube channel was opened with an animated version of Patron with USAID support and recognised by UNICEF.
He is part of the Uanimals team that raises funds for animals affected by the war and other four-legged volunteers.
Patron now has his very own website, having been on Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter)
So what is the future for Patron?
Well, I suggest that his mine clearance days will be dramatically reduced before his luck runs out. In the future, he will spend far more time visiting hospitals and schools for the purpose of education and boosting morale. No matter how good Patron is, sooner or later, he will succumb to the law of averages. Very few individuals, canine or human, can carry out this line of work for years without suffering serious injuries or death, and his demise could end up as a public relations disaster.
Let’s face it: he has done his bit.
It is worth noting that it is estimated that worldwide, there are already well in excess of 40 MILLION mines waiting to be deactivated. At the current rate of progress, which is around 100,000 a year, it could take 500 years to remove them all. As it is believed that another 1.9 MILLION are being laid every year, it is obvious that Patron and his colleagues are going to be very busy for many years to come!!
“Some people will never understand how much my dog means to me. That’s ok…my dog knows.”
Anon