Statue Honors Tsunami, the Border Collie Who Rescued 26 in Venezuela Earthquake

A bronze statue has been unveiled in Maracaibo, Venezuela, to honor Tsunami, a nine-year-old Border Collie rescue dog credited with saving 26 lives following a devastating earthquake earlier this year. The statue depicts Tsunami wearing a rescue hat, with his distinctive single blue eye, a result of heterochromia, a condition where one iris differs from the other.

Tsunami and his handler, Jorge Beens, searched through extensive rubble in La Guarria after the earthquake struck in June. The disaster registered as magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread destruction, over 6,500 fatalities, and damaging or collapsing thousands of buildings. Approximately 226,700 people were reported injured or hospitalized.

The dog was given the title 'Guardian of Hope' on his plinth. During the unveiling ceremony, local residents expressed their emotion, with Tsunami present alongside the monument. The Mayor of Maracaibo awarded Tsunami a Medal of Honour for Merit, and a mural celebrating the dog has also been created.

Trained dogs like Tsunami can detect human scent up to 10 meters beneath debris. They alert their handlers by barking at the strongest point of scent, rather than digging, which could further destabilize the rubble and endanger survivors. Handlers reward the dogs with treats for successful alerts.

Tsunami's journey to becoming a disaster response specialist began when he was rescued as an emaciated puppy from the streets of Caracas. After his recovery, his handler recognized his intelligence and work ethic and enrolled him in Venezuela's K-SAR ECID Disaster Canine Training Center, a specialized urban search-and-rescue organization.

In addition to his work in Venezuela, Tsunami is reported to have participated in disaster response efforts in Syria and Turkey. Following his service in Venezuela, the Border Collie is set to retire from his role as a disaster response specialist.