Rescue dog Quino dies after serving in Venezuela earthquake relief

Quino, a highly specialized seven-year-old Labrador rescue dog, has died in Valencia, Spain, following a mysterious and undiagnosed medical condition. Quino was a member of the Valencia-based NGO Intervención, Ayuda y Emergencias (IAE) and worked alongside handler Pancho Gerber.

The dog gained international recognition for his ability to locate survivors in major disasters, including the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and the Petrópolis favelas in Brazil. Most recently, Quino traveled to La Guaira, Venezuela, to assist in search and rescue operations following devastating earthquakes in June.

After returning to Spain, Quino began suffering from persistent nasal hemorrhages. Despite intensive medical intervention—including blood transfusions, corticosteroids, and consultations with specialists in ophthalmology, internal medicine, and surgery—veterinarians were unable to identify the cause of the bleeding. Even advanced diagnostic tools such as ultrasounds and CT scans yielded normal results. Despite global interest and offers of assistance from veterinarians worldwide, the dog's condition deteriorated until his death.