The canine unit of Ponteareas made history this weekend by becoming the most distinguished rescue team in Europe. During the XI European Police and Fire Games 2026, which featured canine competitions hosted in the Ponteareas municipality, the local unit achieved remarkable success, winning two gold medals and one silver in highly demanding technical and operational disciplines.
This outstanding performance is particularly significant as it marks only the second participation of the canine unit in the European Games. With such a relatively new history in this continental event, the Ponteareas team has quickly established itself at the forefront of international rescue operations.
The challenges of the championship were evident throughout the competitions. Jesús Rodríguez, the head of the local unit, explained that the events were characterised by “great technical complexity,” as evidenced by the fact that out of 15 possible medals, only five were awarded in total. Notably, three of these five medals were claimed by Ponteareas, positioning the local emergency team as the clear leader in the medal standings.
Local teams demonstrated their operational superiority against specialists from across the continent. In the “Search in rubble” category, held in Ribadetea, guide Sonia and her dog Boby secured the gold medal in the female category. Meanwhile, the “Search in large areas” event, conducted near the Convent of Canedo, was dominated by Ponteareas in both the female and male categories. Guide Josefa with Dana won the female gold, while Jesús Rodríguez with his dog Ares took home the male silver.
This result further solidifies the international career of Jesús Rodríguez and Ares, who previously showcased their potential at the 2024 European Games in Braga, Portugal, where they also secured second place in the “Search in large areas” event.
Juan Carlos González, the deputy mayor and councillor for Emergencies, who personally coordinated the validation of the competition grounds, highlighted the strategic commitment of the Concello (local council) to establish this unit. He stated that “these three medals in such technically demanding events demonstrate that effort and constant training yield results, consolidating Ponteareas as the undisputed leader in this discipline.”
Ponteareas mayor, Nava Castro, expressed her immense pride in the achievement, emphasising, “It is a tremendous honour to see the name of Ponteareas shine at the highest level in Europe, thanks to the dedication, commitment, and excellence of our canine unit. This success confirms that our municipality is home to top-level professionals and positions us as an absolute reference in the international rescue field.”
