For the past week, rescuers and search teams have been making superhuman efforts to locate any of the 50.000 people missing following the two deadly earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale that struck Venezuela on July 24. However, one of the rescuers who has stood out and touched the hearts of millions of people around the world is the four-legged Tsunami.
The eight year-old dog of the Border Collie breed, has helped in the rescue of 13 people who were trapped under the rubble. Thanks to his keen sense of smell, he managed to pinpoint their exact location, and rescue crews then carefully dug them out and freed them. Among those rescued was a 60-year-old woman who had been trapped under destroyed buildings for about six days.
The border collie named Tsunami sniffed out survivors trapped under debris after two earthquakes devastated the country last week.
Find out more about Tsunami’s heroic rescue mission 👇… pic.twitter.com/SpqBWSjw5z
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 1, 2026
According to The Telegraph, he has also played a crucial role in responding to other natural disasters, such as earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, as well as in rescue missions following floods and landslides throughout Venezuela.
He belongs to the “K-SAR ECID” (Disaster Dog Training Center) and is always by his trainer’s side, Jorge Bins. He uses his sense of smell to help rescuers locate any survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. His efforts have been recognised by people around the world, rescue teams, and international observers, who admire and praise his work. In fact, one man created a mural featuring Tsunami to honor his heroic actions.
#30Jun | Tsunami was honored with a mural in the municipality of Carrizal, Miranda. The artwork was created by artist Nicola Talento.
The border collie, rescued from abuse and trained by Jorge Beens, has located survivors at more than 25 sites throughout his career.… pic.twitter.com/CPS4a2Yn7S
— El Diario (@eldiario) June 30, 2026
However, this mission was Tsunami’s last before he retired. He was examined by veterinarian Aníbal Hurtado, who stated that the dog had suffered severe physical exhaustion. After receiving medical care and an intravenous infusion, Tsunami was found to be in good health.
From an abandoned puppy to a rescue hero
However, Tsunami’s life wasn’t always like this. When he was still a puppy, he was found wandering the streets of Caracas abandoned, abused, and severely malnourished. His life changed after he was rescued by Anita Vidal, who recognized that he deserved a second chance.
His remarkable energy, intelligence, and agility soon caught the attention of rescue expert Jorge Bins, who welcomed him to the “K-SAR ECID” Disaster Dog Training Center. There, Tsunami underwent intensive training for many years and specialized in locating people trapped under collapsed buildings.
🇻🇪🥺| THANK YOU, JORGE AND TSUNAMI! Thank you so much for all your dedication. Truly, today more than ever, we must stand united.
Heroes who fill Venezuela with strength, peace, and serenity. pic.twitter.com/EKs2Rxp0PR
— Libre Oposición (@Libre_Oposicion) June 30, 2026
Search and rescue dogs can detect a person’s scent even when that person is buried up to 10 metres beneath the rubble. The dogs are trained using toys that have been imprinted with a person’s scent, and when they locate someone, their trainer gives them the toy as a reward.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
