Hero Dog Dies after Saving Seven People in Ecuador Earthquake

The story of a dead dog has gone viral in Ecuador, after rescue officials revealed that it died from exhaustion after saving seven human lives in the recent earthquake that devastated the Pacific coastline of the country.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 16 killed at least 654 people, injuring more than 2,000 others. Buildings, roads, power and other infrastructure were badly affected. After the quake, rescue officials were left with huge rubbles to clear, in order to find people who might have been trapped under the wreckages.

Dayko, the four-year-old dog, was used by firefighters from the Ibara Fire Department, to search for survivals. Dayko reportedly helped firefighters save seven people trapped under the debris. After working for days, Dayko became unwell and was admitted at a pet hospital.

However, on April 22, Dayko died. According to a Facebook post by the Ibara Fire Department, the hero dog’s cause of death was a massive coronary myocardial infarction and acute respiratory failure.

According to pet experts, because animals cannot sweat all over their bodies in the same way humans can, it is more difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. This means they are more susceptible to heatstroke in hot weather.

And without immediate treatment,  heat exhaustion can cause severe damage to the heart, liver, kidneys and brain, and ultimately lead to death. This is exactly what happened to Dayko. Dayko has been given a befitting burial by officials.

It is said Dayko had been working as a rescue dog for three and a half years. Officials said Dayko had worked with the fire department in several locations across the country, from his home in Ibarra to the coastal towns. The fire department filled its Facebook page with photos showing Dayko retrieving, crawling over and under debris, searching for survivors. The post was shared many times. Many hailed Dayko as a hero.

In a translated statement by the BBC, the fire department said “We regret to inform you that the Ibarra fire service is in mourning because we have lost Dayko, who took part in the search at Pedernales. This four-legged friend gave his life in the line of duty. Thank you Dayko for your heroic efforts in Pedernales and in various emergencies where you were present. You held high the name of the K9 unit.”

Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa has expressed shock at the level of damage the earthquake has caused. He said reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure will cost billions of dollars, and that this will have a severe impact on economic growth of the country.

The Telegraph reported that more than 500 specialists from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, the United States and Venezuela have been assisting local fire brigades and Special Forces to restore basic social amenities in the worse affected areas of the country.

Supplies have been arriving by air from less-affected parts of the country. With air support available, survivors are being flown for treatment in the capital, Quito, and the country’s biggest city, Guayaquil.

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