On the coasts of the Adriatic Sea, the lifeguards have four legs and bark, because Croatia and Italy have implemented a canine rescue system that is delivering impressive results, with professionally trained dogs that can assist up to three people at the same time and remain active throughout the summer season, becoming a true “Paw Patrol” in real life.
The most commonly used breeds are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Newfoundlands, which have a natural ability to swim and a resistance to water that makes them ideal for this work, and Newfoundlands have an additional advantage: their webbed paws, which allow them to move with surprising efficiency in the water while carrying out their rescues.
After three years of rigorous training, these dogs graduate as certified rescuers and wear life jackets with built-in floats that allow people in danger to hold on to them while the dogs tow them to shore, and it is currently estimated that there are around 300 lifeguard dogs in action helping to save more than 3.000 people a year, proving that canine heroism is a reality.
