Roger, an 8-year-old Labrador retriever, has radically changed his professional life after being expelled from the police academy for his playful nature. This canine was initially trained at the Detector Dog Breeding and Training Center of the Taichung Customs Administration, in Taiwan, but failed to become a drug detection dog due to its “excessively friendly” character, which made it easily distracted by any show of affection.
However, this aspect, which was considered a drawback early in his career, turned out to be an advantage in his new role within the search and rescue team of the Kaohsiung Fire Bureau, where he now holds the rank of officer. His first rescue mission was after a magnitude 6 earthquake in 2018. Chen Chih-san, leader of the rescue team, quickly recognized that Roger’s playful personality was perfect for these decisive missions.
Since then, Roger has participated in seven rescue missions, the most recent of which took place following the April 3 earthquake off the east coast of Taiwan. In this 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in the last 25 years in the region, Roger played a crucial role in locating the remains of victim number 13, a 21-year-old woman who was found under the rubble in Taroko National Park.
The Fire Brigade recently released footage of Roger’s brave sacrifice during the Taiwan earthquake rescue, showing him climbing a huge boulder along a hiking trail near Hualien’s Taroko National Park. In the video, a rescuer asks Roger if he has seen anything of interest, urging him to look elsewhere, but the dog’s steadfast refusal to move led to the discovery of a trapped person.
Despite being on the verge of retirement, Roger will leave his service as Taiwan’s hero, having won not only recognition for his work but also the hearts of many people through his dedication and bravery.
