Update Revealed via YouTube
"The Bandage Is Due to a Small Wound"
The recent status of the Korean rescue dog 'Tobaegi,' who ran at the T?rkiye rescue site with a bandage wrapped around its front paw, has been revealed. Although there were significant concerns about the injury, fortunately, Tobaegi appeared healthy.
On the morning of the 10th (local time), 'Tobaegi,' who was injured during rescue operations the previous day, is waiting to be deployed for rescue work with a bandage wrapped around its foot in the city of Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The YouTube channel 'Rescue Dog Tobaegi' released a video on the 15th showing Tobaegi training at the T?rkiye base camp. In the video, Tobaegi skillfully follows the rescue team member's commands, and the bandage previously wrapped around the front paw is no longer there.
The channel explained, "The bandage was applied during the search to prevent a small wound from worsening," adding, "The medical staff who accompanied us and I, who know Tobaegi best, monitored and assessed the situation to continue field operations." They emphasized, "Please do not worry too much. We will take care of him happily and healthily."
Tobaegi is a life-saving dog belonging to the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters and was deployed to the T?rkiye earthquake rescue site along with three other dogs named 'Tina,' 'Tori,' and 'Haetae.' Tobaegi is a Labrador Retriever and reportedly underwent a two-year training process to perform his duties.
On the 9th, Tobaegi injured his right front paw by stepping on sharp objects such as concrete, glass shards, and wood fragments scattered at the site. Despite this, he continued rescue operations with a bandage wrapped around the wounded area, drawing both praise and concern from netizens.
Some raised concerns, asking, "Why wasn't he wearing shoes in such a dangerous area?" Rescue dogs sometimes wear protective gear like shoes to prevent injuries, but it is reported that such equipment can cause greater harm on slippery surfaces. For this reason, rescue workers often carry rescue dogs through hazardous zones.
Meanwhile, rescue dogs possess at least 10,000 times the olfactory ability and 50 times the auditory ability of humans, making them essential personnel for tasks such as searching for missing persons and locating bodies. They can also navigate narrow spaces filled with debris, expanding the search area for rescue teams.
Dozens of rescue dogs have been deployed to the T?rkiye site to search for missing persons. This work involves considerable risk for the dogs as well. Recently, a Mexican rescue dog named 'Proteo' lost his life during rescue operations. On the 12th, the Mexican Ministry of National Defense posted a tribute on social media, stating, "Proteo fulfilled his mission as a member of the Mexican dispatch team."
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