The devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake outside of Mexico City this past month has left at least 230 people dead, with rescue efforts continuing. In the midst of the police, fire, military, and volunteer forces is one four-legged, bespectacled, boot-wearing hero named Frida.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Frida, a 7-year old Labrador retriever, and her fellow heroic teammates, set off to rescue and save as many lives as they could. With her trademark goggles and blue boots, Frida has become a symbol of hope to the devastated Mexican people.
Trained as part of the Mexican navy, Frida is a member of any search and rescue missions connected to natural disasters. She is a veteran now credited with saving 52 human lives throughout her career, but to the Mexican people, she became a source of light, heroism, and goodness.
Frida's accomplishments have gone viral. Footage of her digging through the rubble to free people stuck beneath the stones has captured the spirit of this brave nation. Of course, Frida's adorable goggles and cute boots have added to her legendary status.
Most recently, she has been credited with locating the body of a Mexican police officer alongside several other people who had been trapped under the weight of the concrete and stone. Frida was also part of the team that rescued 11 children trapped inside their collapsed school building.
Frida's sense of smell is highly developed, and that's one reason she's so good at her job. But within a year, Frida will retire from her heroic employment as dogs begin to lose their sharp sense of smell at that age. Israel Arauz, her handler for the last two years, said: "It's a source of pride to work with Frida. She's a very, very special dog."
She is such a special dog that she received an official commendation from the Mexican president on Twitter: “This is Frida. She belongs to SEMAR and has helped save 52 lives in various natural disasters at national and international levels.” Some citizens even argued on social media that Frida's image should be placed on the Mexican 500-peso note.
Thank you for your service and dedication, Frida! So many people owe their lives to you. Watch the video below about Frida's role in the most recent search and rescue missions enacted in Mexico, and then share the story of Frida's heroism and selflessness with your family and friends on Facebook.