After a great catastrophe or tragedy, Mister Rogers’ renowned advise is to “look for the helpers”; it may be encouraging in the darkest hours to observe responders doing what they can to help.
A dog, a Mexican rescue canine called Proteo, assisted in the hunt for survivors in the wreckage following the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria and were the worst in more than ten years.
Proteo, who tragically lost his life while carrying out a rescue mission, is today honored as a hero.
One of the ten search dogs deployed to Turkey to help in the wake of the terrible earthquakes on February 6 was Proteo, a rescue dog of Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense. Almost 41,000 deaths have been confirmed as a result of the catastrophe thus far.
Proteo’s task was to look for survivors among the debris; this was a crucial task given the large number of missing persons. Proteo tragically passed away while on duty.
His death’s precise circumstances are still unknown. The Sun claims that he was killed by debris while attempting to save youngsters in Turkey.
Upon hearing the tragic news of Proteo’s passing, the dog’s coworkers have honored him and hailed him as a hero.
The secretary of national defense released a statement saying, “As personnel of the Mexican Army and Air Force, we are terribly grieved by the loss of our wonderful companion, the dog named Proteo. You did what was required of you as a member of the Mexican team during the search and rescue operations we conducted for our comrades in Turkey. I appreciate your selfless labor.
The team is shown paying respect to the late Proteo in another video. After observing a minute of silence for the deceased canine, they applaud him.
They posted on Twitter, “Today we bid farewell with pride to a magnificent canine… who always worked with courage.”
Local graphic artist Burak Türker also paid respect to Proteo by creating a digital picture that remembered him as a hero.
The artist wrote, “Thanks for everything Proteo. “Thank you for helping us locate our brothers and other family members. You are forever in our memories.
After sad events like these, rescue canines like Proteo have a way of uplifting people. The most well-known is perhaps Mexico’s Frida, who gained fame following a devastating earthquake in 2017. She received several awards, including her own statue, before passing away in November.
Whilst it is tragic that Proteo passed away while on duty, we may find comfort in the knowledge that he was carrying out vital work to assist others in the wake of this calamity. Proteo will be seen as a hero despite the fact that his mission may be ended.
