Viennese of the week

Cara and her “Loki” are world champions

City Councillor Peter Hanke congratulated Cara Tutschek and "Loki".(Bild: Tobias Holzer)

Vienna can celebrate a world championship title: not in a sport, but in something even more important: Rescue dog "Loki" and his wife Cara, both of whom work for the Vienna Fire Brigade, have been named the best team in the test of strength for rescue dogs, and in the most difficult discipline to boot.

One of the best sniffer dogs in the world has recently joined the Vienna Fire Department. At the World Championship of Rescue Dogs only for Belgian Shepherds in Bovolone (Italy), a duo from Vienna scored big this time. The 33-year-old Cara Tutschek and rescue dog "Loki" (6) took first place in the most difficult discipline "Universal" (area search, rubble search and obedience) in superior style.

Award also for the entire dog team
The Vienna Fire Department has had its own rescue dog squadron since 1998. Naturally, they are very proud of our Viennese of the week. The main task of the clever four-legged friends is to search for missing persons after house collapses, explosions or earthquakes, i.e. under rubble of any kind.

The rescue dog squadron not only supports the Vienna Fire Brigade, but also the Austrian Armed Forces and the International Search and Rescue Dogs IRO in national and international disaster operations.