Dog diplomacy: Turkey sends Mexico puppy after search dog's death

A German Shepherd puppy has arrived successful Mexico aft being flown from Turkey arsenic a motion of gratitude from the Turkish authorities for the assistance Mexico's hunt dogs lent aft February's earthquake.

Turkey said it hoped the puppy would "carry connected the legacy" of Proteo, a Mexican rescue canine which died during the hunt for survivors of the quake.

More than 50,000 radical died successful the quake which had its epicentre successful Turkey but besides affected parts of Syria.

The puppy is yet to beryllium named.

Mexico's ministry of defence, which trains hunt and rescue dogs for their missions astatine location and abroad, has asked radical to formed their votes for 1 of 3 names: Proteo II, Arkadas (Turkish for "friend") oregon Yardim (Turkish for "help").

Mexico said Turkey's canine acquisition showed that "humanitarian assistance knows nary limits oregon borders".

On its Twitter account, the ministry had besides provided a link connected which fans of the puppy could way the formation which took it to Mexico City from Istanbul.

The puppy was fixed a lukewarm invited by unit from the ministry of defence astatine Mexico City's airport. Dog trainers, who were carrying the puppies they are grooming successful rucksack-like pouches successful beforehand of them, stood to attraction arsenic the caller enlistee arrived.

Mexico, a state prone to earthquakes, has a fig of civilian and subject teams with canine units specialised successful searching for survivors erstwhile disasters strike.

When Turkey and Syria were deed by a monolithic quake connected 6 February, Mexico rapidly deployed teams with rescue dogs to assistance find radical nether the rubble.

Among the dogs deployed was Proteo, a nine-year-old German Shepherd, who managed to find a antheral and a pistillate from nether the rubble.

Proteo died portion successful Turkey. His trainer denied rumours that the canine had been deed by falling rubble, saying that helium had died from "exhaustion" aft the agelong travel and arduous hours searching for survivors successful precise acold conditions.

His remains were returned to Mexico, wherever helium was honoured successful an affectional ceremonial earlier helium was buried.

On its Facebook page, Mexico's ministry of defence said that it was "waiting with unfastened arms" for the puppy Turkey had donated, saying that it hoped it would travel successful his pawsteps.