What if there were a dog that could find the ones that nobody else could?
In an earthquake, where houses become rubble, every second counts. Under the cracked concrete, there are voices screaming but nobody can hear them. However, with just a nose, a pair of paws and an unbreakable instinct, something can make all the difference.
Meet Tsunami, a dog who was born hungry and abandoned. Little did anyone know that this adorable canine would eventually become a search and rescue dog, saving lives and finding those trapped under the debris when all hope was lost.
This story is not just about the lives he saved. It's about an abandoned puppy that became a hero and about one dog showing the world the power of courage, loyalty and love.
What Happened in the Venezuela Earthquake?
On June 24, 2026, there were two strong earthquakes in northern Venezuela. It was only 39 seconds apart. They had a strength of 7.2 and 7.5.
Buildings fell. Thousands of people were stranded or lost. In mid-July, the death toll reached 4,500, according to reports.
Thousands of rescuers and volunteers dug through the rubble day and night. One of the most popular rescuers was a four legged one named Tsunami, a border collie dog he was born in 2017, he is easily recognisable for his black and white color. He has a blue eye and a brown eye.
It wasn't a happy childhood for him. When he was a puppy he had been beaten and dropped off in the streets of the Venezuela capital, Caracas. He was feeble and starving.
He was rescued by animal welfare society APROA, who found him as a hungry, abandoned puppy. They took care of him, provided a comfortable place for him to recuperate and most importantly, a second chance of life.
After this, he was introduced to a man named Jorge Beens. Jorge is the owner of K-Sar ECID, a dog training school for disaster rescue dogs. He saw that Tsunami was clever, fun and lively. He adopted him.
How Tsunami became a Search and Rescue Dog
Jorge is the trainer and handler for Tsunami. A handler is a person who is responsible for training a dog and operating him in the field. They worked together for years. Tsunami acquired skills in locating individuals who had become trapped under structures collapsing during a tsunami. He was taught to use his big nose and how to be very quiet around some dangerous places.
His training paid off. According to Jorge, Tsunami is one of the few dogs in Venezuela that are certified in landslide rescue.
How Many Lives Has Tsunami Saved?
Many families have been saved from destruction thanks to Tsunami's efforts. During his entire career, there have been more than 350 lives, Jorge says.
In the 2026 Venezuela earthquakes: at least 25 survivors. Some reports say 26.
Prior to the 2026 earthquakes, Tsunami had contributed to many disasters. He has been working following landslides, collapsing buildings, gas explosions and floods in Venezuela.
In 2023, he also did some travels abroad. He was assigned to a rescue team for the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Tsunami's Last and Biggest Mission
At the time of the 2026 quakes, Tsunami returned to work. He looked for them in La Guaira and Caracas.
Jorge says Tsunami started finding survivors within 40 minutes of the quake. Rescuers requested the crowd to be silent before each search. Afterwards, Tsunami got busy.
One rescue was made public. A 60-year-old man was trapped for almost six hours inside an eight-storey building which collapsed on him. Tsunami was constantly warning the team of a location.The team was constantly warned by Tsunami of a location. Rescuers dug there and succeeded in extricating the man alive.
In total, Tsunami helped find at least 25 survivors. Tsunami worked for days.
He was quite exhausted at the endn and also received intravenous fluids and rest and made a good recovery. This was the last mission he flew. Thereafter, Tsunami went on to retire.
The statue of a Hero Dog in Maracaibo
All Venezuelians wanted to say thank you! Thus, a bronze statue of Tsunami was erected in the city of Maracaibo.
The following is the information:
Name: Guardián de la esperanza (Guardian of Hope)
The area of the plant would be Vereda del Lago Park, by the lake in Maracaibo.
Artist: Josué Benjamín Figueroa, a 17 year old Venezuelan artist.
When: September 2026
The first life size statue was made by Josué after the earthquake. Later, he created the larger one which is still in the park today.
There were hundreds of attendees at the unveiling. Tsunami came too. He was standing erect beside his own statue!
The City also presented him with an Honor of Merit Award. The Maracaibo Fire Department gave him a Medal of Valor.
The mayor said the statue is there for one reason -- for families to always remember one thing. Hope and help each other prevail in tough times.
He was caught by a second chance and changed his life forever.
Consider the source of Tsunami. He was an orphan dog; no house, no care.
It was one rescue that changed his life. And he touched the lives of many others.
There are untold stories to each stray dog. Some may not be heroes. All of them are capable of being a loyal friend, family member, and source of love, however.
If you are considering getting a new dog, consider adopting a rescue dog. What a little love can grow into, you never know.
Tsunami has now retired. He deserves all of the treats, all of the naps, all of the cuddles. Thanks Tsunami for demonstrating the rescue dog's capabilities.
