TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A rescue dog named Roger from the Kaohsiung Fire Bureau has made international headlines after successfully locating victims buried in the rubble of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Hualien, Taiwan, on April 3.
The dog's heroic efforts were recently featured on CNN.
Originally trained as a drug-sniffing dog at a police academy, Roger was unable to qualify due to his lively nature and lack of attention to commands. However, his energetic personality proved to be a perfect fit for rescue work. At the age of one, he was transferred to a rescue training school and became a search and rescue dog.
Throughout his career, Roger has participated in seven disaster relief operations, including a search and rescue mission during the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Hualien in 2018.
In 2022, Roger received certification from the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization (IRO). Now eight years old, Roger is nearing retirement. According to tradition, when a rescue dog turns nine, the fire department opens it up for adoption to the public.
Roger's story is a testament to the vital role that rescue dogs play in disaster relief efforts, and his upcoming retirement will mark the end of a distinguished career in service to the people of Taiwan.