A dog named Tsunami, a nine-year-old Border Collie who helped rescue dozens of disaster victims, has been honoured with a bronze statue in Venezuela to celebrate his retirement from active search-and-rescue duty.

Tsunami did not begin his life as a celebrated canine hero. He started out as a neglected stray wandering the streets of Caracas, severely malnourished and fighting to survive. Everything changed when animal rescuers saved him and brought him back to good health. Local handler Jorge Beens quickly noticed the young dog’s remarkable intelligence, high energy, and eagerness to work. Seeing Tsunami’s incredible potential, Beens trained him as an urban search-and-rescue canine with the K-SAR ECID disaster response team.

That rigorous training paid off during extreme crises. Over his career, Tsunami worked alongside emergency crews navigating hazardous disaster zones. Following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, his sharp nose and agility allowed rescuers to locate at least 26 survivors buried beneath heavy concrete, shattered brick, and collapsed structures.

Tsunami’s lifesaving work extended beyond his home country. Whenever major international disasters struck, Tsunami and Beens were ready to deploy, including joining humanitarian efforts in Turkey and Syria following the catastrophic 2023 earthquakes.

To mark his formal retirement, officials in Maracaibo unveiled a monument titled “Guardian of Hope” at Vereda del Lago Park. Created by Venezuelan sculptor Jose Benjamin Figueroa, the bronze artwork accurately depicts Tsunami in his tactical rescue gear, capturing his distinct heterochromia (giving him one blue eye). Tsunami attended the ceremony in person alongside Beens, where local officials and the fire department awarded the hero dog the city’s Medal of Valor and Honor of Merit for his years of brave service.