K9 NosePrint Project Syria – Dogs That Save Lives
Organizing and coordinating training sessions for dogs and handlers in Syria in the coming months.
Syria's first Search and Rescue Dog Unit (K9 Unit)
How we started this project:
My name is Paulina Kuntze.
I am a humanitarian worker, an activist, and a deep believer in humanity. While observing and supporting the work of the White Helmets volunteers of the Syria Civil Defence (SCD), I was struck by how Syria is a country balancing between destruction and hope.
Although it has endured years of war, its geographical location makes it vulnerable to natural disasters. I witnessed these volunteers saving lives without proper equipment, resources, training, or safety protocols. They had only their bare hands and enormous hearts. Today, they continue their active commitment to saving lives, serving as a pillar of the Syria Civil Defence. For over a decade, I observed Syria from afar, raising awareness of its needs in Poland, organizing support, and collaborating with local partners. This allowed me to gain a profound understanding of their reality, culture, and language and consequently, their true needs.
When the earthquake struck in February 2023, I realized with absolute certainty that while the courage of Syrian volunteers is unwavering, it is not enough; search and rescue dogs are essential! Following an exchange of expertise with Przemysław Rembielak (a Polish expert in rescue and humanitarian aid, and Director of Operations for the Association of Independent Firefighting Experts in Poznań), the idea of implementing Syria's first Search and Rescue Dog Unit (K9 Unit) was born. With the support of Kids Paradise (our local partner in Syria) and volunteer trainers from Poland – Przemysław Rembielak and Krystian Faltyn (Senior Mountain Rescuer and Paramedic specializing in Rescue Dogs with the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue Service – GOPR) – we organized the first-ever rescue dog training in Syria's history in August 2025. We were guided by the White Helmets' motto: "To save one life is to save all of humanity." We selected a natural training ground in the ruins of Aleppo, gathered future handlers from the SCD team, and began working with over a dozen dogs.
Our Fundraising Goals
Organizing and coordinating training sessions for dogs
Equipping the local K9 Unit base with kennels, training grounds, educational materials, and communication systems.
Cooperating with local partners
Implementing a program with respect for the local culture and conducting the supplementary first aid and disaster response training for the local community.
Purchasing essential professional equipment
Most importantly we need harnesses, vests, cooling mats, GPS trackers, and protective gear.
Providing veterinary care and specialized food for the rescue dogs is also crucial.
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Empower paws and hearts for a better Syria!
By supporting us with a donation, you are helping create something long lasting. Help us continue this mission. Every paw that rescues a person from the rubble is proof that solidarity can be stronger than war. This project is more than just a one-time training. It is the beginning of something larger – a program aimed at creating Syria's first professional cadre of rescue dogs and, in the future, a full training center.
Join us in making a difference!