The gesture comes after Proteus passed away last February. After consultation on Facebook, the winning name for the puppy will be announced today.
On February 6, when two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 hit Turkey and Syria, killing at least 55,000 people, Mexico was one of the countries that joined in the international support for the search and rescue of victims with more than a hundred members of the brigade and various dogs. , including Proteo.
But the rescue dog, which was part of the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) team, did not return to Mexico. On February 12, one of the organization’s squads announced the unfortunate death of the nine-year-old German shepherd, who died of exhaustion after grueling hours of work amid rubble and harsh conditions in the dead of winter. According to the Mexican press, in Turkey, his last mission saved the lives of two people, a 50-year-old woman and a man of around 70, in addition to the recovery of two bodies.
“The cause of his death was not due to a landslide, the weather conditions prevailing in this country, as well as his age, mattered a lot, and the journey, without a doubt, was long enough for him”, explained Carlos Villeda Máquez. , the trainer of Proteo, a rescue dog who has served in different earthquakes such as the one in Ecuador in 2016, in Mexico City in 2017 and on this last occasion in Turkey.
In a 48-second video recorded in the disaster area, Villeda Máquez dedicated a few words to the dog, which he recognized as a “strong dog; a hard-working dog, who never gave up.” “I can only thank you for bringing me. Unfortunately, you will not be able to do it with me (…) One day we will see each other again”, declared the coach. “I am proud of you (…) I will always remember you. (…) All of Mexico, I hope they will always remember you, that they will never forget you”, he insisted.
So that was it. Proteo’s corpse was sent to Mexico, where the army received it with a moving ceremony: the coffin was carried by four soldiers, while other officers and rescuers showed their respect. There were of course other dogs, companions of the deceased, underlined the newspaper El País.
Last March, during a meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sent a message of thanks to Mexico for its help after the earthquakes. “I want to thank the Mexican government, as well as the Mexican people, for their solidarity and support, and for sending search and rescue teams of 150 people,” Cavusoglu said. Thanks he also addressed to the rescue dogs, in particular to Proteo, whose name now bears one of the rehabilitation centers in tribute to his work.
But Protée’s recognition did not stop there. This Tuesday, in what has already been dubbed canine diplomacy or canine diplomacy, a German Shepherd puppy donated by the Turkish government arrived in Mexico. Behind the smiling officer presenting the dog, army and air force authorities mounted a huge shield, on which was read in large letters a “Welcome home”. Another message greeted those present at the event: “One hero leaves, but another follows his legacy. And, of course, an image of the deceased Proteus that fades to make way for the heir to his efforts.
“Finally arrived, thank you for having accompanied me in this reception, I am very happy to be here and to meet my new friends, I will not disappoint them,” wrote the Sedena while sharing the first photographs of the puppy. in Mexican territory. , after a journey of just over 10 hours.
The next step after the puppy arrives in Mexico is to find a suitable name for it. The Ministry of Defense launched a consultation on Facebook, which ended last night at 9:00 p.m. People had to choose between Proteus II or the Turkish names Arkadas, which means friend, or Yardim, helper, in Turkish. The post had over 38,000 interactions by the end of the day.
“Thank you for your participation in this important decision, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10:30 am, via social networks, we will announce the winning name during a very special event!”, announced the Sedena. “On behalf of the Turkish people, we appreciate this great demonstration of empathy, solidarity and, above all, friendship between nations!
Turkey said he hoped the little one would “carry on the legacy” of Proteus. The dog will be among Army pairs that receive training for guarding and protecting, or detecting drugs, explosives, tracking, search and rescue.
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
