In a house in the eastern part of the Nuseirat refugee camp, in the center of the Gaza Strip, Uva is relaxing. The six-year-old Belgian Shepherd needs to clear his head before returning to his mission. being a military dog is no easy task.
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The security forces have quite a few dogs in regular service, but Uva is likely one of the few who joined the reserves. His owner, Adi Hazut, served in the elite Oketz K-9 canine unit. When he completed his his service, he brought home with him a small puppy, borne to a member of the unit and raised him as a guard dog.
The two worked together for a company providing security services to farmers in northern Israel. "He's a dog from a proud IDF lineage," boasts Hazut. "I didn't hesitate to take him with me to the reserves, and he does contribute a lot to us."
Hazut explains that in his "civilian life," Uva sniffs out avocado thieves and tracks down rabbits from kilometers away, pursuing them in open fields and helping catch them. "He's used to working in fields and orchards," says Hazut, still holding Uva's back harness, as the dog looks at us suspiciously, baring his teeth.
"But here, he assists us in searches and locating terrorists and explosive devices in suspicious buildings. He's been with me in the reserves since October, and we both have been loosing workdays, but there's no choice – this is everyone's war."