Trained rescue dogs are helping to find survivors buried underneath layers of concrete and otherwise undetectable.
Hours after two huge earthquakes and hundreds of aftershocks struck southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria on February 6, some much-needed rescuers began to arrive in Turkey – K9 teams from around the world that had come to lend a hand to GEA, a Turkish volunteer rescue team.
K9, a homophone of canine, is a dog specially trained to assist security forces and emergency teams – in rescues, drug enforcement or other operations. These dogs came from, among other countries, El Salvador, Germany, Mexico, Qatar, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States.
The much-welcomed rescuers, who can find victims by scent alone, are needed to help the Turkish K9 teams in desperate operations where buildings as high as 14 storeys have collapsed, making it difficult to find survivors by sight or sound.
REDOG, a K9 volunteer team from Switzerland, is on the ground in the Turkish city of Iskenderun, working with the local GEA team, an all-volunteer search and rescue group.
Since arriving on February 6 near midnight, the team of 10 people and six trained dogs together with GEA have so far found 39 people alive under the rubble.
The dogs are trained to sniff out a human scent, stand at the spot and bark loudly to alert their handlers to the spot where they have found it. A second dog is then released to see if it can confirm the findings.
If the two dogs confirm, this allows human rescuers to concentrate their digging efforts on that particular spot until they find the person.
“I think it’s one of the most emotional moments of my life … the moment when one of our dogs signals to us that he found some people in the rubble,” REDOG’s vice chief for rubble search Matthias Gerber told Al Jazeera.
The dogs work all day in teams of three at rubble sites, taking turns to work 20-minute shifts, followed by 40-minute breaks.
In one case after their dogs signalled the location of where people were buried, human rescuers began digging at the spot and soon heard knocking coming from behind the rubble from the victims trapped inside, confirming what the dogs had already pinpointed.
“Eight hours later of hard work, they saved four people alive from this position,” Gian Forster, REDOG team leader who works with three dogs, told Al Jazeera.
Every time a REDOG dog finds a person, he or she is praised and rewarded with a toy or food.
“He really likes to find people because he gets rewarded every time,” Forster said. “The main thing is that the dog has fun and likes to search for the people.”
If the survivor isn’t buried too deep, the dogs can pick up on the scent quite quickly. But some buildings in Iskenderun have six floors that have collapsed with 2-3 metres (4-6 feet) of concrete pancaked in between each level, making it a challenge to find people buried more deeply.
“If it takes time for the scent to come up, we have to go [to the spot of debris] and remove some [floors of] rubble and try again. It’s quite a hard process if the person is buried that deep,” Gerber said.
Describing a recent rescue, Gerber said: “We arrived at the rubble field and we started searching on top of the roof of the building, and we didn’t get any scent there. And then Gian thought about how the wind is coming from the west, so we searched the east side of the rubble and there, the dogs [detected] the scent from the person.”
The dogs working with REDOG on the ground in Turkey – among them labradors, German shepherds, Belgian shepherds, border collies and golden retrievers – have up to seven years’ experience working in rescue missions and have helped find survivors after disasters in Japan, Nepal and Albania.
But, Gerber said, in the last 30 years of his rescue dog work, the current mission in Turkey is the most challenging and tragic that he has experienced, referring to the scale of destruction.
“For our dogs, it’s very hard if there is so much rubble on top of the victims to find them. It’s a big obstacle for us. It’s good if we can come back to the same rubble site after they removed some floors of rubble and search again, because then we’ll have a chance to find people alive even if they’re buried very deep,” Gerber said.
Murat Kurum, the Turkish minister of environment, urbanisation and climate change, has said that more than 41,700 buildings in 10 affected provinces in the country’s southeast had either collapsed, urgently needed to be torn down or were severely damaged, according to state news agency Anadolu.
At least 1,791 buildings in 10 provinces that were affected have been identified as being severely damaged or requiring immediate demolition.
“It’s horrible what happened here. All these collapsed buildings, all these people who lost their relatives, their homes. It’s horrible,” Gerber said.
“We are happy to help here with our dogs, to get people out alive. It’s really important. It really moves me that we can help here.”
So far, of the 2,000 calls that GEA has received, REDOG, working with the GEA, has answered about 200 of them, he said.
California-based NGO National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) has trained seven of the 12 rescue dogs deployed from the US currently searching for survivors in Turkey.
Denise Sanders, director of communications and search team operations, told Al Jazeera that the dogs are “so much better at detecting scents than any technology that we have”.
“They run over the top of rubble and do what’s called air sensing. They’re picking up those scent particles in the air and then following their nose quite literally to the strongest scent source, and that would be the point of the potential victim,” Sanders said.
Knowing from past experience working in the aftermath of earthquakes such as in Haiti, she said dogs have shown that they are able to sniff “very distinct scents that are very dispersed in the air”, as deep as 6-9 metres (20-30 feet) below the surface.
“In Haiti in particular, we had collapsed buildings that had been six, seven storeys tall that pancake-collapsed … We know that the dogs were able to locate [the survivors] and alert,” Sanders said.
For a dog to be trained and skilled at finding survivors, they naturally need to have drive, determination and “boundless energy”, Sanders said.
“This is not your pet that you toss the toy for in the back yard a couple of times and they kind of get tired and lay down. These dogs will go until they drop, until you tell them it’s time to stop.
“That kind of resilience and determination is exactly what we need… they’re [on the ground] for one, two weeks and they need to cover a massive area, and check so many different sites and run over so many different mountains of rubble.
“They don’t necessarily make great pets [due to their high energy]; they are not able to settle quite as well as the average dog, so we really try to channel that into a job that they love.”
The K9 rescuers are dedicated to their work, and they face as many dangers as their human partners do. Proteo, a German shepherd working with the Mexican rescue team in Kahramanmaras, died this past week when the remains of a building he was searching in fell on him. He has been honoured as a hero by the Mexican defence ministry.
The members of the Mexican army and air force. We deeply regret the loss of our great companion, the dog: Proteo. You fulfilled your mission as a member of the Mexican delegation in the search and rescue of our brothers in Turkey. Thank you for your heroic work.
The dog went to great lengths to remain by his owner’s grave for 20 days, his unwavering loyalty and love deeply moving the hearts of millions
In a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable, there is something profoundly touching about the unwavering and steadfast loyalty of a dog. The story of a sorrowful dog, who spent 10 consecutive days beside its owner’s grave, has captured the hearts of millions, reminding us of the incredible bond that can exist between humans and their four-legged companions. This heartwarming tale highlights the depths of love and loyalty that our furry friends are capable of, leaving us with tears in our eyes and warmth in our hearts.
Our story begins in a small, serene cemetery on the outskirts of a quiet town. It was here that a dog, known as Max, and his owner, John, found solace and companionship. Max, a golden retriever with soulful eyes and a heart full of love, had been John’s faithful companion for years. They were inseparable, sharing countless adventures and weathering the storms of life together.
Tragedy struck when John, suffering from a terminal illness, passed away. Max was by his side in his final moments, and the bond between man and dog seemed unbreakable even in death. John was laid to rest in the cemetery he had come to love, and Max’s world was forever altered.
The day of John’s burial was a somber one. As friends and family gathered to say their final goodbyes, Max stood by the graveside, his eyes filled with sorrow. He seemed to understand the finality of the moment, and as the last clumps of soil were shoveled onto the grave, Max let out a mournful howl that pierced the hearts of all who were present. It was a haunting sound, a lament for the loss of his dearest friend, and it echoed through the cemetery, leaving no dry eye in its wake.
After the funeral, Max’s loyalty became even more evident. While the friends and family dispersed, Max remained. He refused to leave John’s side, sitting beside the freshly turned earth as if waiting for his owner’s return. It was a gesture of devotion that tugged at the heartstrings of those who witnessed it. Max’s unwavering presence spoke of a love that transcended death itself.
The days turned into nights, and still, Max did not budge. He was fed and cared for by a few compassionate individuals who couldn’t bear to see him suffer, but he showed no interest in leaving his post. The cemetery caretaker, Mr. Anderson, was deeply moved by Max’s loyalty and decided to keep a watchful eye on the faithful dog.
As the days passed, news of Max’s vigil began to spread, touching the hearts of people far and wide. It wasn’t long before the local media caught wind of the story, and Max’s loyalty became a topic of conversation in the town and beyond. The image of Max, sitting beside John’s grave, became a symbol of enduring love, and people from different walks of life were drawn to the cemetery to witness this remarkable display of loyalty for themselves.
The story of Max’s vigil soon spread to social media, and it wasn’t long before it went viral. Millions of people across the world were moved by the sight of the grieving dog and the tale of his unwavering loyalty. The hashtag #MaxsVigil began trending, and people from all corners of the globe expressed their admiration for Max’s devotion.
But it wasn’t just the online community that was affected by Max’s story. Local businesses and organizations came together to support the faithful dog. They provided food, water, and shelter for Max, ensuring that he was taken care of during his vigil. People began to visit the cemetery regularly, not only to pay their respects to John but also to spend time with Max, providing him with the love and comfort he so clearly needed.
Ten days passed, and still, Max remained at his post. His once-shiny coat had become dusty and matted, and his eyes were filled with a profound sadness. His mournful howls had softened into a whimper, but he never once left John’s side. The resilience of Max’s loyalty became a beacon of hope and an inspiration to all who encountered his story.
The story of Max’s vigil at his owner’s grave had a profound impact on the community. It reminded people of the incredible capacity for love and devotion that dogs possess. Max’s actions weren’t just a random occurrence; they were a testament to the deep bond that can exist between humans and their four-legged companions.
Max’s vigil also raised awareness about the importance of responsible pet ownership. It served as a reminder that dogs are not disposable companions but loyal friends who deserve our love and care in return for their unwavering devotion. Many viewers of Max’s story were moved to adopt or rescue dogs, recognizing the incredible companionship and love that they offer.
As the world watched and waited, the 10th day of Max’s vigil arrived. It was a day that would be etched in the memories of all who had been touched by his story. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Max let out one final, mournful howl. It was as if he was saying his last goodbye to John. With great effort, he rose from his resting place beside the grave, his legs shaky from days of inactivity.
Mr. Anderson, the caretaker, approached Max with a heavy heart. He gently led the weary dog away from the grave, and as Max took his first hesitant steps, the crowd that had gathered to witness the extraordinary vigil began to applaud. It was a bittersweet moment, a tribute to Max’s loyalty and a farewell to a sorrowful chapter in his life.
In the days that followed, Max slowly began to adjust to life without his beloved owner. The sorrow in his eyes didn’t fade entirely, but he found solace in the love and support of the community that had rallied around him. People continued to visit the cemetery to check on Max, and he became a local celebrity of sorts, a symbol of the enduring power of love.
The #MaxsVigil hashtag continued to circulate on social media, and the story of Max’s loyalty served as a reminder of the goodness that exists in the world. It became a source of inspiration for many, a testament to the depth of connection that can exist between humans and their canine companions.
As the years passed, Max’s health began to decline. His once-vibrant spirit was dimmed by the weight of his years, and it became clear that his time on Earth was drawing to a close. The town that had come to love him gathered once again, this time not to witness a vigil but to say their final goodbyes to a faithful friend.
On his last day, Max was surrounded by the people who had come to care for him, and he closed his eyes for the final time with a contented sigh. He was laid to rest beside John, his loyal owner, in the same cemetery where their extraordinary journey had begun. The bond between man and dog, though tested by death, remained unbroken in eternity.
The story of Max’s 10-day vigil at his owner’s grave is a testament to the incredible loyalty and love that dogs can offer. It reminds us that the bond between humans and their four-legged companions is not limited by the constraints of life and death. Max’s story touched the hearts of millions,
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