Mexico's army has welcomed a new search and rescue puppy, gifted from the Turkish government as a gesture of gratitude for the lifesaving work of Mexico's emergency teams following devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria in February.
The three-month-old German shepherd will join Mexico's famed canine unit, specialised in locating survivors in a country prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Ankara said it hoped the puppy would "carry on the legacy" of Proteo, one of the Mexican rescue dogs that died a hero while saving earthquake survivors in Türkiye.
Nine-year-old Proteo, whose remains were returned to Mexico for a military funeral, saved three people before he succumbed to exhaustion after the long journey and arduous hours searching for survivors in very cold conditions.
Proteo also helped find the bodies of 29 earthquake victims.
"Proteo will always be a symbol of the permanent friendship and solidarity between Mexico and Turkey," Turkish ambassador Ilhan Tug said during the ceremony in Mexico.
The black and beige pup was named Arkadas — meaning "friend" in Turkish — following an online vote.
Arkadas will be trained by the same trainer who cared for Proteo, the army said.
"I hope that Proteo's little brother Arkadas can serve this government," Mr Tug said.
Mexico deployed rescue dogs to Türkiye after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, followed by a series of quakes and aftershocks, shook a huge area near the southern border with Syria, causing at least 54,000 deaths across both nations.
Wearing a padded green harness featuring a tiny Mexican flag, Arkadas was welcomed to the force in a formal ceremony at a military base in Mexico City on Wednesday, joined by his new canine and human colleagues who were standing to attention.
The excitable pup barked as Mexico's national anthem blared out from speakers.
"Thanks to my friends from Mexico who welcomed me with great affection. I promise to do my best to be a great search and rescue dog," the Mexican Defence Ministry tweeted on behalf of Arkadas.
ABC/wires
