Mexican Navy’s Elite Unit

After the 8.1 magnitude earthquake occurring in the year 1985, the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) created a K-9 Unit with the prime objective of conducting search-and-rescue operations in order to help and find people trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. The highlight was the inclusion of a canine team in the unit which consisted of highly trained dogs. The fact of Frida being the head of this team can give you an idea of her high credentials. “When an earthquake hits, canine search and rescue teams are an important tool at a global level,” Commander Israel Monterde Cervantes, chief of SEMAR’s K-9 Unit, explained Diálogo. “Their efficiency saves us time getting to people who are still alive.”

Deployed

“We have advanced quite a bit since the ’85 quake. We have had many advances in the area of protecting civilians,” Cmdr. Monterde stated. “We are one of the best in this area in Latin America.” These statements arise from the confidence that the officials have on Frida, who is always ready to help them whenever a natural disaster occurs. Before going into an operation she is made to wear goggles, boots, and a harness just like any other navy personnel. It is after this that she gets ready for action. Astonishingly, Frida has been serving the navy since the day she was born and is currently 7 years old. The amazing rescuing skills that she displayed during the earthquake will surely leave you stunned!

Long Career

In the span of 7 years that she has served the Navy, Frida has made up quite a name for herself which is exceptional as 7 years is considered to be a short amount of time for achieving something that Frida has. It is because of her amazing detection skills that 12 out of the 52 people she detected are still alive. But, if you think this is all then you are wrong, as, there is much more under her belt most of them acquired after her efforts during the tragedy which struck Mexico that we are talking about.

Recent Work

When the navy was being asked by the government of Mexico to spring into action and help people who had been affected by it, Frida was among those who instantly popped up in the miserable scene caused by the 7.1 scaled earthquakes. She was being deployed in the Mexican state of Oaxaca which was the most affected by the tragedy and had become a sight of mass destruction. 

Detection Skills

She was instantly made to wear her protective gear before proceeding to work her way through the collapsed buildings amidst the rubble in order to find bodies. It was only because of her exceptional detection skill that the officials were able to find the body of a Juchitan police officer and numerous other civilians among the debris. But, Frida and the navy personnel were not relaxed as they knew that there was still a lot more work left to do However, there was still a lot more work to do.

Working Together

After successfully completing the rescue operation in the state of Oaxaca, Frida was on her way to Mexico City. The Mexican navy was confident that Frida would help them significantly here too after seeing her showcasing her skill in Oaxaca. But, this time Frida was not alone in her rescuing spree leading the pack consisting of fourteen other rescue dogs who were assigned the task of finding as many bodies as possible. The loss of life was huge here as it was reported that there were at least 305 people dead. Amidst these traumatic sights, Frida vigilantly looked for survivors.