15 – 19 April 2026,
Ig, Slovenia

At the EPEKA Association, we believe that heart and social responsibility do not end at the close of the working day, which is why we proudly support the volunteering of our members even in their free time. Between 17 and 19 April, our colleague Žiga Dobnikar took part in the demanding international operational readiness test, the IRO Mission Readiness Test (MRT) in area search in Ig. Žiga, who is an active rescue dog handler in the Rescue Dog Unit of Slovenia, embodies through his engagement the values of solidarity and community assistance that we advocate in our organisation.

The MRT test, held under the auspices of the International Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO), is considered one of the toughest challenges in the world of search and rescue. It requires exceptional mental resilience, seamless teamwork, and absolute trust between the handler and the dog. Teams had to be ready for deployment within 15 minutes and remain on constant standby, simulating real-life conditions during natural disasters or search operations where human lives are at stake.

As part of the test, handlers and dogs systematically searched densely overgrown and geologically diverse areas of six hectares. Additionally, a night operation was carried out, requiring the teams to search the area along a three-kilometre forest path. Our member and employee successfully located 8 out of 8 missing persons during the test. Besides the search and fieldwork, he also had to pass a practical and theoretical exam in veterinary first aid. Such voluntary engagement of our colleagues not only brings invaluable experience in the field of crisis management but also directly contributes to greater safety and helping fellow human beings in their most difficult moments.

You can read more about the test itself and the activities of the IRO organization on their official website. We sincerely congratulate Žiga and his four-legged companion for their demonstrated professionalism and commitment!