After a rescue dog from Mexico died while searching for victims of the devastating earthquake that struck near the Syrian border in February, the Mexican armed forces were presented with a new search puppy from Turkey on Wednesday.
The three-month-old German Shepherd puppy will join Mexico’s famed canine squad, which is trained to aid in the search for survivors after natural disasters such as earthquakes.
The black and brown fur ball with perky ears and large paws was given the name “Arkadas,” which means “friend” in Turkish, after an online ballot.
Proteo, the rescue dog that was murdered in Turkey, will be teaching Arkadas, according to the army.
Mexico dispatched rescue dogs to Turkey after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake damaged a big region along Mexico’s southern border with Syria, killing at least 54,000 people in both countries. Mexico staged a military burial this year to remember Proteo, another German Shepherd.
Arkadas was officially welcomed to the force on Wednesday at a military base in Mexico City, where he was greeted by his new canine and human friends, standing at attention and wearing a cushioned green harness with a little Mexican flag.
As the Mexican national anthem played on the stereo, the dog barked excitedly. Arkadas promised to “do my best to be a great search and rescue dog” because of the love and support he has gotten from his new friends in Mexico, according to a tweet from Mexico’s military ministry.
