After hours of efforts, the search was temporarily halted at 2:00a.m. due to a lack of positive signals. Acknowledging the Vietnamese contingent’s tireless rescue efforts, General Nayade Solovenly Lockiby Belmontes, Commander-in-Chief of the Venezuelan Militia, visited and encouraged the force.

leftcenterrightdel
Venezuelan Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez visits, encourages, presents a letter of gratitude, and awards the Meritorious Service Medal to the Vietnamese contingent’s service dog team.

Also on the evening of July 3, Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez visited the camp to encourage the contingent and present a letter of gratitude. Notably, the Acting President awarded the Meritorious Service Medal to Vietnam’s service dog team for their performance in search and rescue operations following the earthquake in the country.

leftcenterrightdel
The decision to award the Meritorious Service Medal to the Vietnamese contingent’s service dog team.

Xu Kip, a service dog that previously joined rescue efforts in Nu village, was honored to receive the medal on behalf of the team. The squad also includes three other dogs that participated in disaster relief missions in Türkiye (2023) and Myanmar (2025).

leftcenterrightdel
Service dog Xu Kip during a mission

The eight service dogs, consisting of O Lat, Vat, Ja Vo, Jun Ka, Kun Mat, Jin Ka, Ot Ky, and Xu Kip, are considered “special weapons,” constantly standing side by side with their handlers and making significant contribution to the overall achievements of the Vietnamese contingent in this rescue mission in Venezuela.

Translated by Minh Anh