(20 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quito, Ecuador – 20 May 2024
1. Various of Quito Fire Department canine unit dogs arriving for retirement ceremony
2. Various of Golden Retriever Gaia performing an exercise
3. Handers with dogs Ares, Kratos, Zeus, Titan and Gaia at retirement ceremony
4. Close of Kratos
5. Mid of Kratos, Titan and Gaia with handlers
6. Various of handler removing harness and dog receiving medal
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Cardenas, Quito Metropolitan District Fire Department Chief:
"Well, Kratos, Ares, Gaia, Zeus and Titan today have begun their mandatory rest process due to the completion of years of service. Of our team of 12 canines, 5 have retired, (these dogs) are part of the first class that started working during the Manabi earthquake in 2016. They have completed several missions between them, the earthquake in Mexico, they have been in Alausí (landslide in March 2023), they have been in the same sector of La Gasca (mudflow in January 2022) and several activities within the city (of Quito) and at national level. We believe that the time of service has arrived, their medical reports have suggested to us that they should enter their retirement process."
8. Cardenas speaking to the press
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Cardenas, Quito Metropolitan District Fire Department Chief:
"Today for us is a day of mixed feelings, we really would not want them to leave, we would have liked to have them with us in our ranks, but we must understand that they are operational units, and having them in the teams can be distracting for the handlers. For the sake of our colleagues, we have decided to hand them to adoptive families who have met certain requirements that we have requested."
10. New owner Valeria Zevallos petting Gaia
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Valeria Zevallos, Dog Gaia’s new owner:
"All my life dogs have been my companions. I have always had dogs and to know that she (Gaia) has had a career, that she has saved lives and everything is wonderful, and we have many adventures ahead of us now, after her work adventures, family adventures."
12. Wide of handlers with dogs
13. Various dogs being handed over to new owners
14. Wide of dogs, handlers and new owners
STORYLINE:
Rescue dogs from Ecuador’s Fire Department were on Monday lauded in a retirement ceremony after seven years of service and handed over to new adoptive owners.
Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Cardenas said the five dogs – Ares, Kratos, Zeus, Titan and Gaia – were part of the first class of canines used by the department.
The unit is composed of German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.
Cardenas recalled some of their feats, including aiding in finding survivors of earthquakes and landslides across Ecuador and abroad, including a mission to Mexico in 2017.
He cited veterinarian reports that suggested their retirement was due.
"Today for us is a day of mixed feelings, we really would not want them to leave, we would have liked to have them with us in our ranks," he said.
The dogs’ new owners were selected carefully after meeting certain requirements, he added.
Gaia’s new owner, Valeria Zevallos, said she was amazed by her new pet’s previous career of saving lives.
"Many adventures await us now, after her work adventures, family adventures," she said.
AP Video shot by Cesar Olmos
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