[FROM MY COMFY CHAIR via Long-Range Scent-Tracking Drones to CARACAS, Venezuela] —
Hello frendz. It’s me, JournoDog. Your loyal scoop-sniffing canine scribe.
Am sad to share some ruff news that’s less tail-wag worthy than usual. It’s in need of some shared barks, for the sake of furry frendz and their hoomans far to the south in a place I’m told is called Vena’zoola.
They tell me the ground was shaking violently, terrifying people and pets alike.
The hooman media calls it an earthquake. My scooby sources fink they’re rumble tumbles.
Imagine a giant dog in the sky grabbing its fav squeaky toy and shaking it with all its might — side to side, up and down, every which way.
Except this wasn’t playtime.
Not once, but twice. Official hooman rock-sniffers measured the back-to-back rumble tumbles at 7.2 and 7.5 ‘tudes, followed by even more after-rumbles in the days ahead.
In an instant, the steady ball we all call home forgot how to be steady, leaving families, pets, and entire neighborhoods frightened and searching for safety.
So many pets and hoomans have been caught in the middle of this chaos.
Like I said before, ruff times all around.
Rescued from beneath
Media reports have highlighted one pawz-itive story amid all the heartbreak.
Hooman heroes from the Caracas Fire Department were on the scent at a collapsed house when suddenly… they heard a faint, tiny bark coming from beneath the heavy concrete slabs and twisted metal.
They didn’t pawz for a second.
These hooman heroes used their hands to carefully pull away heavy rubble to not hurt the trapped little doggo. They managed to lower a water bottle through a narrow opening to give the frightened pup some much-needed hydration. And then, they pulled the shaken puppy out alive!
The little doggo is doing fine and is in the care of the fire department, according to media reports.
Key lesson, frendz: No matter how heavy the rubble, a doggo’s spirit and a timely bark can bring hope and happz in dark times.
Other heroes on the scent
Canine units across the country have been helping rescuers find puppies and hoomans trapped beneath the debris. More proof that doggos are a force of healing heart power when the world falls apart.
One example of that is an 8-year-old Border Collie named Tsunami.
Once a malnourished, abandoned puppy wandering the streets, he got a second chance and now works alongside his hooman handler (Jorge Beens) in the K-SAR ECID disaster canine unit.
Tsunami went to special search-n-fetch school and trained his mighty sniffer to help others.
After the rumble tumbles, he searched the rubble of a collapsed building until he caught the scent of life.
His nose led emergency crews to a trapped 60-year-old hooman who’d been buried for nearly six hours.
By my deadline, the media reported that Tsunami had helped rescuers locate at least 13 survivors.
He worked so hard that a dog doctor had to treat him for “severe physical exhaustion.”
Sounds to me like his prescription should include lots of naps, fresh drinky water, and endless belly rubs before his retirement as a good boi.
With that, there’s more we can all do beyond tail wags and supporting soulful dog eyes.
How to Help and Find Aid
Our international pack needs to look out for the pets and people on the ground who are hurting right now.
If your hoomans have extra resources to share before buying pet food or squeaky toys, here is where you can point them.
(Inserted after deadline by Dad-Editor pre-publication):
For Pets
- Local animal welfare orgs, including Red de Apoyo Canino, have been involved in rescuing animals, arranging veterinary care, and distributing food and water in affected areas.
- International groups such as Network for Animals have partnered with local orgs to provide emergency vet assistance, food, water, and temporary shelter for pets affected by the earthquakes.
For Humanitarian & Community Relief:
- Direct Relief: Funding emergency medical teams, supplying hospitals and clinicians, and supporting search-and-rescue efforts. The org states that designated donations go directly to Venezuela earthquake response.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Giving emergency healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation, & hygiene services while scaling up humanitarian assistance.
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is actively on the scent, accepting dedicated donations to help provide emergency shelter, food, safe water, medical care, + other critical relief to families affected by the Venezuela earthquakes through its local partner, Caritas Venezuela.
- Poetry with a Cause: Venezuelan poet Manny Hernandez recommends Guerreros Azules, an NGO that supports children with diabetes and their families in that country for more than a decade. He plans to donate sales of his poetry, along with personal contributions, to the org and encourages others to consider supporting its work.
JournoDog thanks Dad-Editor for helping to verify facts and for adding those paw-fficial resources before publication. And with that, JournoDog out. Keep your hearts open for Venezuela, frendz.
Remember, always love your pets. Support local journalism. Stay safe in scary times, & lend a helping hand or paw. And try to find smiles and happz for your heart every day.
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