Search and Rescue Dog Tsunami Helps Find 25 Survivors in Venezuela Earthquakes

Following two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, a border collie named Tsunami has helped recover 25 survivors from the rubble. Tsunami, a 9-year-old search and rescue dog, works alongside his handler Jorge Beens, founder of the Disaster Response K-9 Team Training Center (K-SAR ECID). Previously abused and abandoned, Tsunami was rescued by the Asociación Pro Defensa de los Animales (Aproa) and later trained by Beens. The dog has prior experience in earthquake rescues in Syria and Turkey. Beens announced that this will be their final mission before retirement. Artists have created fan art depicting Tsunami wrapped in the Venezuelan flag as a superhero cape. In total, 137 search and rescue dogs from multiple countries, including Mexico, Czechia, Argentina, and Colombia, are on the ground. Notable dogs include Max, Orly, Balam, Halley, Kenai (Mexico); Origami, Szizor (Czechia); Bart (Argentina); Rojo, Candy, Dastan, Tamy (Colombia).