German Shepherd Injured in Ukrainian Bomb Blast Set to Become Police Dog in Budapest

A German Shepherd seriously wounded last year in a rocket attack in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv province is now training with a police department in Hungary to work with people with disabilities.

According to the Associated Press, Rambo the dog is now working with the Budapest Police Department, and learning how to interact with children, older adults and disabled people at police demonstrations and rehabilitation institutions.

The 3-year-old dog was accompanying Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline when a bomb strike left him clinging to life. Shrapnel from the bomb left the right side of the dog's face mangled.

The dog lost much of its right ear and pieces of its jaw and skull. He was moved to safety, and an emergency surgery saved Rambo's life.

Rambo spent eight months in Hungary recovering from the procedures. His jaw was partially reconstructed and his ear was amputated.

As Rambo recovered, it was apparent to rescue workers the dog was good-natured and partial to children.

Lt. Col. Maria Stein told the AP Rambo is used in demonstrations to show people the sorts of tasks canine units perform. Ultimately, Stein said the goal of the program is to teach young people to be more tolerant of other people's differences.

"Nowadays, unfortunately, it happens that children mock each other because they wear glasses, because they have braces, because their ears look funny or whatever — because they're different," Stein said. "With Rambo, we might be able to sensitize these children a little and show them that, yes, he is injured, he's different, but he can do the same things as other dogs."