Dog o' Day
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Working dogs get brought onsite to help after Surfside tower collapse

By Clare Browning

SURFSIDE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue person and a K-9 continue search and rescue operations in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as the search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
SURFSIDE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue person and a K-9 continue search and rescue operations in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as the search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) /
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The Surfside building collapse in Florida has many different first responders have been brought onto the scene, not all of which are human. Dogs have been involved in working roles for many years and often are brought onto the scene when tragedy strikes.

Working closely alongside first responders are two different types of search and rescue dogs. The third type of dog is seen outside of the rubble working with survivors and victims families.

The first type, seeks out the living that are trapped or injured. They are able to maneuver more treacherous areas and seek out survivors with their keen sense of smell. They then alert their human counterparts who are able to enact a plan to rescue those individuals. Numerous dogs with this specialty have been working on the scene.

The second type of search and rescue dogs that can be found working amongst the rubble are known as human-remains or cadaver K-9s. Their specialties lie in locating the deceased so that they can be recovered and laid to rest by their loved ones. There are three cadaver K-9s onsite in Florida.

As of Monday, the official death toll is eleven individuals still with over 150 people unaccounted for.

After the tower collapse in Surfside, Florida many first responders were called to the scene including three different types of canines to help with search and rescue efforts as well as therapy purposes.

Varying from the other two types of canines onsite, the third type is seen among family members providing emotional support. The stress and anxiety that is caused by tragedy and grief can be a lot of handle. Dogs provide an excellent outlet by allowing individuals to pour their emotions into the dogs while the dogs provide stability and comfort. Two therapy dogs have been brought onsite by the Boricuas de Corazon disaster relief team.

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A variety of breeds can be spotted working amongst other first responders including: Greyhounds, Labrador Retrievers, Walker Coonhounds, German Shepherds, and Akbash Dogs. All of these dogs share a purpose in trying to help as many victims of the tragedy from the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida.

Our thoughts and prayers go to those affected by this tragedy.

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