The Dog Stayed With Its Owner's Body for 6 Days After the Earthquake

An animal rescue team in Antakya found a surviving dog next to its owner's body six days after the earthquake.

On February 12, employees of the HAYTAP animal protection organization in Antakya, Turkey, put on a helmet and entered the building after receiving a report that a dog was suspected to be left behind on the 4th floor, and found a big fluffy German shepherd.

"It was a miracle that the dog was rescued after 6 days, clinging to the body of its owner, and hopefully we can give it new life," said HAYTAP representative Csenay Tekinbas.

Mehmet Gurkan, a member of animal rights group HAYTAP, rescues a dog trapped for seven days in a house in Antakya, Turkey, February 12, 2023. Photo: AP

A week after a catastrophic earthquake flattened parts of Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6, rescue teams are still searching for the last survivors. In addition, the rescue of animals has also attracted much attention. At present, field hospitals have been set up in four cities in Turkey to receive rescued pets.

Despite being rescued, many pets lost their owners or struggled to find new ones against the backdrop of millions of Turks and Syrians devastated in the aftermath of the earthquake. In Antakya's square, rescue stations stack large bags of pet food.

"There's no food, there aren't any pet stores at the moment. Many places have closed or collapsed," Tekinbass said.

The death toll from the quake in Turkey and Syria has so far surpassed 41,000. The disaster caused the collapse of thousands of buildings and left millions homeless in freezing weather. In Turkey alone, an estimated 1 million people are living in tents and makeshift shelters, and at least 80,000 have been injured. In Syria, the United Nations estimates that as many as 5 million people may have been made homeless after the earthquake.