When an earthquake brought down buildings across Mexico City, one of the rescuers who went into the rubble wore goggles, boots — and a tail.
Frida was a yellow Labrador Retriever serving with the Mexican Navy’s search and rescue unit. Her job was the hardest one there is: climbing into collapsed buildings where humans couldn’t go, using her nose to find people trapped alive under concrete.
She worked in protective gear — goggles to shield her eyes from dust and debris, and boots to protect her paws from broken glass and twisted metal.
The Face of Hope
After the September 2017 earthquake in Mexico City, photos of Frida in her gear spread around the world. In a week of grief, she became a symbol of hope: Mexicans shared her image everywhere, and “Frida” became one of the most talked-about names of the rescue effort.
Over her career, Frida deployed to earthquakes and disasters in Mexico, Haiti, Ecuador and Guatemala. The Mexican Navy credited her with locating more than 50 people across her years of service — work measured not in headlines, but in families made whole again.
A Hero’s Honors
Frida retired in 2019 and died in November 2022, at age 13. The Navy held a ceremony in her honor, and a statue of Frida and her handler stands in Mexico City — the little dog in goggles, still watching over the city she served.
❓ Q&A
Q: Why did Frida wear goggles and boots? A: Rescue dogs work in dust, smoke and sharp rubble. The gear protects their eyes and paws so they can keep searching safely.
Q: How many people did she find? A: The Mexican Navy credited her with locating more than 50 people across disaster deployments in four countries.
Story compiled from widely reported accounts and Mexican Navy statements on Frida.
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