Chivas can smell danger, and he’s helping train kids to stay safe
In the frontline communities of Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a six-year-old German Spitz named Chivas is doing something remarkable: teaching children how to stay safe in a war zone.
Ukraine is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Around 23% of its land is potentially contaminated with landmines and other unexploded weapons. Since the war escalated in February 2022, at least 1,660 civilians have been killed or injured by these hidden dangers – including 179 children. In communities where playgrounds, fields, and footpaths can conceal deadly threats, knowing what to do could mean the difference between life and death.
That's why Save the Children, in partnership with the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA), has been delivering mine safety awareness education since 2022. Thanks to the support of our donors, the project now reaches nearly 90,000 people across 10 regions – including over 67,000 children – the majority living in areas along the frontline.
A very good boy with a very important job
And then there's Chivas. Trained to detect the chemicals found in explosives, Chivas demonstrates what mine detection looks like in practice, and helps make the experience of learning about it more fun and engaging. When children arrive at sessions carrying fear, uncertainty, and the weight of living through conflict, Chivas creates a rare and precious moment of calm.
Chivas is definitely everyone’s favourite teacher.
Turning fear into understanding
Trainers from UDA say that bringing dogs like Chivas to the sessions helps foster a trusting, friendly atmosphere – one where children feel safe enough to listen, ask questions, and absorb life-saving information. Chivas teaches children to cross their hands as a signal of danger, mirroring the way he crosses his own paws when he can smell explosives.
Chivas’s impact is undeniable. In the most difficult of circumstances, he helps turn a potentially frightening topic into something children can engage with and remember.
This is what Save the Children's work looks like on the ground: creative, community-led, and deeply human – even when a little dog is the one teaching the lessons.
Because every child deserves to grow up safely. Even — especially — in a minefield.
Chivas takes a well-deserved rest on the classroom floor after another successful lesson.
How your support helps keep children safe
Every year on 4 April, the world marks International Mine Awareness Day – a reminder of the hidden dangers that continue to claim lives even after fighting moves on. Your support helps make projects like this possible.