An untrained border collie used its sense of smell to locate people trapped under rubble following earthquakes in Caracas, Venezuela [1].
The event highlights the critical role of canine scent capabilities in disaster response, especially when formal rescue resources are overwhelmed or unavailable in devastated urban areas.
The double earthquake struck on June 24, 2026 [1]. In the aftermath, the dog's owner brought the animal to the affected zones in Caracas to assist in search operations [1], [2]. The owner said they decided to utilize the dog after recalling a previous instance where the animal instinctively rescued a child [3].
Despite having no professional training for search and rescue, the dog successfully identified the locations of survivors buried beneath debris [1], [2]. The animal's ability to detect human scent through layers of concrete, and steel provided essential leads for recovery teams working in the ruins.
Reports on the animal's identity vary among news outlets. Univision Noticias said the dog was Milo [1], while other reports, including those from El País and Diario El Día, said the dog was Tsunami [2], [3].
The canine's efforts occurred amidst the chaos of the June 24 disaster, where local authorities and volunteers struggled to clear rubble and find survivors [1], [2]. The border collie's natural instincts proved effective in the high-stress environment of the Caracas disaster zone [3].
“An untrained border collie used its sense of smell to locate people trapped under rubble”
While professional search-and-rescue dogs undergo rigorous certification to ensure reliability and safety, this incident demonstrates the powerful baseline olfactory capabilities of certain breeds. In immediate post-disaster windows, the deployment of intuitive animals can bridge the gap before international specialized teams arrive, though it lacks the systemic coordination of formal rescue protocols.
