In Bangkok, Thailand, two rescue dogs switched roles on Wednesday. After five days of sniffing for possible life in a collapsed building, they temporarily took on a special mission—providing emotional support to families waiting for news of their missing loved ones.
Wearing their orange vests, the two golden retrievers were taken to a temporary shelter where they mingled with the families of the 72 people still missing. Children caressed them, while others whispered to them, as if conveying their hope that someone alive might be found beneath the rubble.
One of those who found some solace was Chanpen Keawnoi, who is missing his mother and younger brother. According to him, "As long as the dog barks when a signal is heard, there is still hope that there is life inside." For those who had lost hope, the dog's simple gesture seemed to give new hope.
While waiting for new rescue instructions, the dogs have been spending some time on their new duties. According to Susan Redmond, a senior K9 handler, in addition to rescue, the dogs also provide emotional support. She said, "Dogs have a unique ability. Simply petting them brings comfort to people."
The 30-storey building, which was still under construction, was the only structure to completely collapse in the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar. It was found to have construction defects and substandard steel. As a result, the Thai government has ordered immediate safety inspections of 11,000 private buildings to prevent such tragedies in the future.
