Turkey sends new puppy to Mexico after ‘heroic’ dog dies to rescue earthquake victims

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Turkey has given a German shepherd puppy to Mexico in a gesture of gratitude for sending highly trained police dogs to aid in search and rescue efforts following the deadly earthquake in February.

Ankara said it hoped the puppy would carry on the “legacy” of the Proteo, one of the Mexican dogs sent to Turkey and perished in the field.

Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense welcomed the puppy on Tuesday, posting photos of the dog waiting patiently for “his paws to step on Mexican soil for the first time, here in my new home.”

Before her arrival, the Department of Defense ran a Twitter poll asking people to choose a name for the dog: Proteo II, Arkadas, or Yardim. Arkadas, which is Turkish for a friend, seems to be a favourite.

The pup has big footprints to fill in: Nine-year-old Proteo saved at least two people during his time in Turkey, dying from the stress of the long journey and frigid temperatures.

His remains were returned to Mexico, where he was honored with an emotional ceremony.

The Ministry of Defense wrote on Twitter after his death: “We send a final farewell to a great hero.” “Let us commend our partner Proteo deservedly.”

A municipality in Istanbul was so moved by Proteo’s sacrifice that it announced plans to erect a statue in his honor.

“Proteo came from Mexico, miles away, and came to rescue our compatriots under the rubble… in these lands he never knew, and he succeeded,” said Sukru Genc, ​​mayor of Istanbul’s Sariyer municipality, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. Municipal.

“Proteo is now one of the names we owe allegiance to.”

Mexico itself is a site of frequent earthquakes. In 1985, about 10,000 people were killed during the country’s most devastating earthquake, while more than 600 people were killed and thousands injured during the 2017 earthquake.

The country is known for its police dogs as well as its civilian search and rescue force, the topos, or mole. The Mexican Army and Tobos, along with their trained dogs, often travel to other disaster-stricken countries to lend a hand — or paws.

Perhaps Mexico’s most famous police dog is the yellow Labrador Frida, whose efforts during the 2017 earthquake saved the lives of countless people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Frida passed away in November 2022.

Famous rescue dog Frida and her handler work after an earthquake hit Mexico City in September 2017. Reuters

Updated: May 02, 2023, 4:50 PM

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