Bandage Fighting Spirit Korean Rescue Dog... Also Noticed by Turkish Media

Rescue Dogs Play Vital Role at Earthquake Damage Site
Rescue Dogs Show Bandage Fighting Spirit

Local media are paying attention to a Korean rescue dog continuing search operations with bandaged paws at the earthquake disaster site in T?rkiye.

On the 13th (local time), T?rkiye's state broadcaster TRT Haber posted an article titled "Three Korean Rescue Dogs Work with Bandaged Paws."

The media revealed the search operations of the rescue dogs, stating, "Despite having injuries on their paws, the rescue dogs continue their rescue work." In the released photos, the rescue dogs were bravely roaming the disaster site despite their wounds. Netizens who saw the news responded with comments such as "Lovely puppies" and "Hope the dogs don't get seriously hurt anymore."

Roaming the site with bandages... 'Four-legged heroes'

On the morning of the 10th (local time), in the city of Antakya, Hatay, Turkey, the rescue dog 'Tobaegi,' injured during rescue operations the previous day, is waiting to be deployed for rescue work with a bandage wrapped around its paw.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the T?rkiye site, four special rescue dogs from the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters?'Tobaegi', 'Tina', 'Tori', and 'Haetae'?were deployed. Tobaegi and Tina are Labrador Retrievers, while Tori and Haetae are Belgian Malinois. All the rescue dogs reportedly underwent a two-year training program to prepare for their missions.

Among them, Tobaegi, Tori, and Haetae injured their paws on broken rebar and glass shards. However, all three received emergency treatment and were redeployed to the site.

Although safety equipment such as shoes exists to prevent injuries to rescue dogs, in slippery environments with snow, wearing such equipment can be more dangerous, so they are often deployed without it. Currently, in hazardous areas, rescuers carry the dogs directly to move them safely.

Rescue dogs excel with superior olfactory and auditory senses in disaster sites

On the morning of the 10th (local time), in the city of Antakya, Hatay, Turkey, the rescue dog 'Tori,' injured during rescue operations the previous day, is waiting to be deployed with a bandage wrapped around its paw. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Rescue dogs are known to have at least 10,000 times better olfactory ability and 50 times better auditory ability compared to humans. Therefore, they play a crucial role in locating missing persons or discovering bodies at disaster sites.

Also, when it is impossible to sift through all debris, rescue dogs search wide areas instead of humans, speeding up rescue operations. Rescue dogs are trained to bark when they detect human scent, and precise searches are conducted around the areas where the dogs bark.

Meanwhile, the Mexican rescue dog 'Proteo,' dispatched to T?rkiye, passed away during rescue operations. The Mexican Ministry of National Defense announced Proteo's obituary on social media on the 12th, stating, "You fulfilled your mission as a member of the Mexican delegation sent to rescue our brothers in T?rkiye." The cause of Proteo's death is unknown, but it is believed to have died while conducting rescue activities at the earthquake site.