As soldiers arrive at locations where help is needed, six four-legged companions comb the terrain on a silent mission: searching through structures, following trails, and finding what human eyes cannot always see. Urko, Nala2, Polo4, Perla4, Júpiter, and Urbi, along with their handlers, are part of the specialized capabilities of the Disaster Response and Prevention Brigade of the Engineer Command.
They don’t need to understand the words of an emergency. A single signal from their handler is enough to get them started. Then, play is left behind and training takes over: their sense of smell sharpens, their steps become precise, and every movement takes on a purpose.
These are six stories united by a single mission. Urko, Nala2, Polo4, and Perla4 specialize in search and rescue, while Jupiter and Urbi work on specific tracking tasks. Behind each one is a soldier who knows their signals, their timing, and those little habits that ultimately forge a bond that goes beyond training.
Urko is a Belgian Shepherd with eight years of service; he is one of the most experienced dogs in the group. On the job, he is serious, focused, and attentive to every signal from his handler, but when the workday ends, a different side of him emerges: he leaves the intensity of the rescue mission behind and seems to have only one concern—finding his ball so he can play again.
Nala2, a Labrador deployed in Chocó, has a unique trait that speaks to her connection with her handler: she recognizes his voice even among a crowd of people. Amid the noise, movement, and confusion, that familiar voice is enough for her to refocus and continue doing what she was trained to do.
Polo4 and Perla4 are also Labrador Retrievers specialized in search and rescue. One with light-colored fur and the other with dark-colored fur are part of the teams prepared to locate people when the terrain makes the search difficult. Their work begins long before they arrive at an emergency, with hours of training and a bond built with their handlers.
Júpiter is a Belgian Shepherd who has been in service for just over a year and specializes in specific tracking. His task is to follow a specific scent trail and turn what might go unnoticed by a person into a clue that helps guide a search. His specialty is different, but he shares the same mission as his teammates.
And then there’s Urbi, another Belgian Shepherd specializing in specific scent tracking, who was also deployed in Cali. Amid the rubble, his figure is at times lost among the remains of a collapsed structure. With honey-colored fur and a dark muzzle, he moves forward with his body leaning toward the ground, sniffing every nook and cranny, while his handler remains attentive to his movements.
Although each dog has a specialty, a distinct appearance, and a unique way of behaving, they all share something essential: trust in their handler. A partnership is forged after many days spent together, learning to interpret a gesture and knowing when a signal means to move forward, stop, or resume the search.
They also eat, rest, and play. They have their work hours and their rest periods. But when it’s time to help, their senses become specialized tools in the service of a deeply human mission: locating, rescuing, and helping to save lives.
Today, as National Army rescue soldiers assist with relief and rescue efforts in different regions of the country, these six teams are also scouring the terrain. They move forward alongside their handlers, alert to a track, a scent, or a sign that might lead them to someone waiting to be found.
As long as someone is searching, there will always be a chance of finding someone. And as these six four-legged companions traverse the terrain alongside their handlers, behind every bark, every track, and every signal, the hope of finding someone and bringing them home will remain intact.
