A seven month old Border Collie dog called Helios is the first dog in Romania specially trained to save victims of avalanches. Helios was recently donated by French association Pays de Savoie Solidaire to the Arges Public Mountain Rescuers. A group of mountain rescuers from Arges recently took part in a course which consisted in training dogs for avalanches in Savoie, France, according to the Arges County Council.

Helios needs further training until he is two years old, when he will be able to search for victims of avalanches. The head of the Arges Mountain rescuers unit Ion Sanduloiu will take care of training the dog.

The Arges Mountain Rescuers service will also set up a center where they will train people who will breed dogs for avalanche rescue.

Border Collies are sheep herding dogs originally bred around the Anglo-Scottish border, and is often cited as one of the most intelligent dog breeds. It is one of the breeds which have proven to be successful in avalanche search, along with German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Arges County Council)