Balam, a rescue dog from the Querétaro Red Cross, made his way to Turkey to aid in search and rescue efforts. However, Balam’s journey is unique due to his survival of poisoning. A neighbor had thrown tainted sausages at Balam while he was out for his daily walk with his devoted parents Athos and Tango, both of whom were committed to rescuing puppies. The poison nearly took Balam’s life, but he fought through and is now an incredible rescuer himself. Despite his past trauma, Balam continues to show great courage and dedication to saving lives.
In a tragic incident that occurred on June 13, 2021, Benjamin N., a 60-year-old man, poisoned a group of puppies who were serving as rescuers. This act of cruelty marked the first instance of animal maltreatment that resulted in criminal prosecution in Mexico. The perpetrator was sentenced to a 10-year prison term. Unfortunately, the parents of one of the puppies, Balam, were too young to survive the attack. Athos, Balam’s father, had an impressive track record of helping find seven people buried under rubble during the Mexico City earthquake on September 19, 2017. The case received significant attention in Latin America due to Athos’s heroic actions, and the trial against the man who caused his death eventually had its final verdict. Local media reported that the perpetrator had repeatedly threatened the puppies’ guardians and succeeded in causing harm to the innocent animals.
However, the man who committed the crime was rightfully punished and is currently serving time in prison. On the other hand, Balam is continuing his father’s work by rescuing people and spreading positivity during natural disasters. Since the tragic event, Balam has been supported by kind-hearted individuals who have helped him through his journey of recovery. One of these individuals is Edgar Martinez, who has become Balam’s main caretaker. Martinez has taken on the responsibility of caring for the collie-Australian shepherd mix.
For quite some time now, these furry creatures have been undergoing training to perform the important task of rescuing missing individuals. One particular cute ball of fur has captured the hearts of many for its exceptional work. Balam, the only surviving dog from a poisoning incident, is currently aiding in the search and rescue operations following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
There are a total of 16 pairs of dogs that have received proper training for this particular scenario. The main objective at present is to rescue individuals who require immediate assistance, as stated by Ebrard. Balam has managed to stay alive and has now been assigned with the important task of saving more lives. Unlike humans, he is impartial in his behavior and does not take into account past hurts. He will be the first to offer his assistance and will navigate through areas that may be inaccessible to humans, in order to locate and alert others of your presence.
Don’t underestimate the potential of puppies as they possess both nobility and intelligence. We can learn a lot from these amazing creatures. Meet Balam, a true hero and a living miracle, who proves that you don’t need a cape to be one.
