A dog that survived nearly a month trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building after Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has become a symbol of hope amid one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters.
Video circulating on social media shows the dust-covered poodle, whose name is Beyli, being pulled alive from the wreckage 29 days after the June 24 earthquakes, which killed more than 5,500 people and left thousands of others seriously hurt.
The footage shows first responders giving the dog water moments after the rescue.
Beyli was found curled up beside the body of his owner’s mother inside the collapsed building in Catia La Mar, one of the hardest-hit communities, according to Diario de Morelos. The media outlet reported that the dog’s 11-year-old owner survived the disaster, but lost both her mother and grandmother.
Veterinarians said Beyli was severely dehydrated and suffering from eye ulcers, but is expected to recover.
“Beyli is clinically stable. From a physiological standpoint, his survival is extraordinary considering the amount of time that passed without basic necessities. He has eye ulcers caused by prolonged exposure to dust and a lack of lubrication, but his prognosis is favorable with the treatment he is receiving,” a vet told Diario de Morelos, according to a translation.
The rescue came as emergency crews continue searching damaged neighborhoods more than a month after the earthquakes hit just seconds apart, flattening thousands of buildings and leaving many people homeless.
Beyli’s rescue is one of several remarkable survival stories to emerge from the disaster, though most search efforts have shifted from rescue to recovery. The poodle has since been reunited with his owner at a temporary shelter, where the pair are beginning to recover together after the tragedy.