A few weeks back while going through the newspaper headlines, a piece of news caught my attention. “Operation Dost: How India had Gone above and Beyond to Help Earthquake-hit Turkey,” it read. Scanning through the article, I was amazed to discover how the efforts of India were winning hearts in Turkey. The Indian Army had set up 60 Para Field Hospitals while the NDRF was involved in search and rescue operations including relief and humanitarian assistance to the ‘Dost’ country.
But this was not all. The most interesting part of the story was the involvement of Romeo and Julie, Rambo, and Honey. They were the heroes and heroines of the story. These four Labradors, accompanying the 151 NDRF personnel of Operation Dost, were working in two teams and were also regarded as the expert sniffers. The newspaper story elaborated on how they performed the search and rescue operation along with the members of the NDRF Team and helped them find out trapped survivors. They also helped the Turkey Authorities as per requirements in the process of rescue and saved several lives.
True to the word that dogs are men’s best friends, Romeo and Julie succeeded where the machines failed, suggested the report. I was both astonished and delighted when I came to know that it was Romeo’s and Julie’s bark that alerted the NDRF team to the presence of a six-year-old girl and they managed to rescue the child alive from under the rubble, 80 hours after the deadly series of earthquake hit the city of Noordagi in Turkey. Amidst the heartbreak of tremendous loss and death, these pawsome superheroes appeared as god-sent angels keeping the hope alive. It was really a crowning moment for the NDRF rescue team and this was possible because of Romeo and Julie.
Later, I found that rescue dog teams from across the world, including Mexico, have been flown into the rescue operation in Turkey. These four-legged life-savers from around the world were given special treatment for their tremendous work. Turkish Airlines paid their respect to these furry friends by sending them back to their homes in the passenger cabin and some were even upgraded to business class as they did not want these superheroes to go back on cargo flights. The Airline also added that it was the least they could do to show their appreciation for the heroic effort of these dogs.
It’s not only in Turkey. Time and again, dogs have played a key role to rescue operations in many accidental and natural mishaps like accidents, fires, and floods. When the chance of survival plummets and the flicker of hope diminishes with every passing second, these superheroes spring to action upholding the flag of life.
Being an animal lover, I feel a dog is the only living being on earth that loves us more than their lives. My heart fills with joy when I find how they display loyalty, bravery, and intelligence in the face of imminent danger to protect us. Every rescue incident is a token of the special bond between dogs and human beings. The bravery and determination of these four-legged friends have always been examples of selfless love and faithfulness of the highest kind.
It has been very well-twitted by the NDRF that having a dog “will bless you with many of the happiest days of your life,” as “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
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