Strengthening Mine‑Action in Lebanon and Azerbaijan, One Pawprint at a Time

This year, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) proudly expanded our humanitarian mine-action work with the donation of 12 Mine Detection Dogs (MDDs) to Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Lebanon, three countries that continue to face widespread contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war.

In February 2025, MLI donated MDD Perry II, sponsored by the Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation, to the Federation for Civil Protection (FACP) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. FACP was one of three Bosnian organizations partnering with MLI’s Mine Detection Dog Partnership Program in 2025. Now part of FACP’s four-dog team, Perry II is working closely with his handler, Miralem Žuga, to advance the shared goal of a mine-free Bosnia-Herzegovina during a particularly meaningful year, marking the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords and the end of the Bosnian War.

In Lebanon, MLI donated one life-saving mine detection dog in June: MDD Shelby, generously gifted by Steve and Kathrine Costner. Trained at the Mine Detection Dog Center in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Shelby is now working alongside her handlers at the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) as she completes certification to international mine-action standards. Once fully operational, she will support clearance efforts across Lebanon’s mine-affected regions, helping return land to safe civilian use.

MDD Shelby joins four other active MDDs currently serving with LMAC, and this winter, three more hero dogs will join their ranks.

Just one month later, in July, MLI delivered five additional mine detection dogs, MDDs Astor, Lina, Mala, Mila, and Lada, to the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA). Generously donated by an anonymous benefactor, these dogs completed their training with the Global Training Academy in Bosnia-Herzegovina and were delivered by their trainer directly to ANAMA’s facility in Azerbaijan. They are now bonding with their handlers and preparing to join active clearance operations once certified.

These seven new dogs join a proud legacy of MLI-donated MDDs deployed around the world.

In December, these hero dogs were joined by five more young MDDs, Beny, Sava, Lasa, Roka, and Cub, also donated by an anonymous supporter. These newest recruits are settling into their new home, building strong bonds with their handlers, and progressing toward certification to international mine-action standards.

MDD Benny

MDD Sava

MDD Roka

MDD Lasa

MDD Cub

With the arrival of these five pups, MLI has now donated more than 100 mine detection dogs to Azerbaijan! A milestone reflecting decades of partnership and impact.

MLI’s Mine Detection Dog Program: A Proven and Powerful History

MLI’s Mine Detection Dog Partnership Program (MDDPP) is one of the longest-running and most impactful mine-action efforts in the world. Since its inception in 1999, over 320 dogs have been trained and deployed to 11 countries, where they have collectively helped clear millions of square meters of land contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Each MDD undergoes several months of training to detect the scent of explosives with incredible precision. MDDs work alongside skilled human handlers local to the mine-impacted country, and together, they can search land up to 30 times faster than manual deminers. Remarkably, no MLI-trained dog has ever been injured in the field, a testament to the care, training, and professionalism that define the program.

Driven by Donor Generosity - A Call to Action

Behind every deployed MDD is a donor who made it possible! MLI is grateful to the individuals, families, foundations, and organizations who support these life-saving hero-dogs. Their gifts ensure that mine-affected communities can reclaim their land and move forward with safety and hope.

The need for mine clearance remains urgent. Conflicts may end, but the threat from landmines lingers for generations, endangering lives, blocking development, and robbing children of safe places to play. You can help. Whether through sponsorship, advocacy, or a simple donation, your support brings hope and healing to some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Join us in turning landmines into milestones. Click the link to help sponsor a lifesaving Mine Detection Dog.

“Every Mine Detection Dog we deploy is a symbol of renewal. With their help, communities can finally begin again—free from fear.”

- Perry Baltimore, Former Executive Director, MLI