From shelter dog to world champion

For Jana Nečasová and her dog Síria, standing on the top step of the podium at the 2026 IRO World Championship for search and rescue dogs was a truly special moment. The Czech team had won the world title in Tracking, which would have seemed almost unimaginable just a few years earlier.

A second chance for Síria

Síria's story began at an animal shelter in Košice, Slovakia. The young dog had been found on the streets and had suffered an injury to her front leg as a puppy.

Jana was looking for a dog to join her in the world of search and rescue. Knowing that the IRO gives dogs a chance regardless of their background encouraged her to consider adopting a shelter dog.

When she first saw Síria's photo, she was immediately drawn to her expression. After speaking to the shelter staff, she knew Síria was the dog she wanted to bring home.

At around six months old, Síria was initially frightened of many things – cars, children and unfamiliar situations. But with Jana, she found a sense of security. With patience, care and gentle encouragement, her confidence gradually grew.

Growing stronger together

The very next day, Jana began introducing Síria to training through play. Eager to learn and please her handler, Síria was enthusiastic from the outset. "The most important thing was to build her confidence," Jana recalls.

Together, they successfully passed search and rescue dog tests in both rubble and area searches. However, due to her old leg injury, intensive rubble training was not an option for Síria. Rather than giving up on their ambitions, Jana adapted the training to Síria's needs.

Through patience, trust, and plenty of teamwork, the formerly frightened shelter dog grew into a confident search and rescue dog. Eventually, their journey led them all the way to the IRO World Championship.

A dream come true

For Jana, simply competing in the World Championship had been a long-held dream. She had never imagined that she and Síria would one day stand together on the top step of the podium.

My big dream was simply to make it to the World Championship.

Jana Nečasová, Síria's handler

But their journey is far from over. Today, Jana and Síria are primarily focused on area search. Their next big goal is to take the IRO Mission Readiness Test (MRT) in this discipline, which is an important step towards potentially participating in international search and rescue operations.

To Jana, Síria is much more than just a search and rescue dog, though. She is a loyal friend and companion who accompanies Jana to work every day.

Their story reminds us that every dog has potential, no matter where their journey begins. With patience, trust, and the right opportunities, a frightened shelter puppy can grow into a confident partner capable of extraordinary things.