Orly, Balam, and Kenai did not know that this flight would be different. They boarded the plane as they always do, obedient, with their tongues out and their tails wagging. But this time the destination was Venezuela, and the mission was to find those who were trapped beneath the rubble of two earthquakes, one of them measuring 7.5, which occurred on June 24.
Together with their handlers, they are part of a team of 25 specialists from the Mexican Red Cross, the Cancún International Rescue Brigade, and Topos Azteca. They are traveling with 3.5 tons of equipment, but also with something no tool can replace: their trained sense of smell to find life where others no longer see hope.
Mexico has experienced its own earthquakes. It knows what it feels like to wait beneath concrete for someone to find you. That is why it sent the best it has: five canine teams willing to cross a continent for a people who need them today. 🐕❤️
