Vietnamese rescue dogs honored with Venezuela's Order of Merit

Eight Vietnamese sniffer dogs have been honored with Venezuela's Order of Merit for their exceptional performance in search and rescue operations following a devastating earthquake. The canine unit, alongside their handlers, played a crucial role in locating victims and cadavers amidst the rubble, earning international recognition for their bravery and skill.

The dogs, belonging to the 24th Border Guard Intermediate School, included O Lát, Vát, Ja Vo, Jun Ka, Kun Mat, Jin Ka, Ot Ky, and Xu Kip. They were tasked with detecting victims and cadavers within collapsed buildings. Among them, Xu Kip stood out for its superior scent detection abilities during the mission in Venezuela.

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The dogs are awarded the Order of Merit for outstanding achievements in search and rescue and overcoming the aftermath of the earthquake.

This was Xu Kip's second search and rescue mission and its first international deployment. The dog, born in 2022, had previously assisted in locating victims buried by landslides in Lào Cai province, Vietnam. Notably, four other dogs in the team, Vát, O Lát, Ja Vo, and Jun Ka, had prior international experience, having participated in rescue efforts in Turkey and Myanmar in 2023 and 2025 respectively. These experienced dogs, along with Jin Ka, had also been deployed domestically following a devastating landslide in Lào Cai province that claimed 60 lives.

The Venezuelan interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, personally visited the Vietnamese rescue team to express gratitude and present the awards. The Order of Merit was bestowed upon the canine unit for their distinguished service and significant achievements in the aftermath of the earthquake, highlighting the vital role these animals play in international humanitarian efforts.

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Xu Kip is the dog with the most outstanding scent detection ability in the force during search and rescue operations in Venezuela.