Google searches for lost dogs jump 5,000% after Colombia earthquake

Searches for lost dogs in Colombia surged more than 5,000% the day after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10, underscoring how disasters separate pets from families as rescue teams and volunteers search for survivors and missing animals. The disaster has left nearly 300 people dead, about 4,000 injured and hundreds still missing.

Why it matters: - The earthquake is not only a human disaster. Families are also searching for pets that fled damaged homes or were left behind during evacuations. - Google search spikes show a fast-moving need for pet rescue, transport and treatment as the crisis unfolded. - Rescue dogs remain central to finding people in collapsed structures and unstable areas.

What happened: - A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10 at around 7:30 a.m. - Latest government figures put the death toll at almost 300, with another 4,000 injured. - Hundreds of people are still missing. - More than 44,000 families have been affected as rescue teams work through unstable buildings and repeated aftershocks. - Faye’s Doggy Boutique, a Liverpool-based dog day care and grooming business, analyzed Google search data from Colombia. - Searches for “lost dogs” rose more than 5,000% on Aug. 11, one day after the quake. - Searches for “dog carriers” and “dog bandages” also climbed by more than 5,000%.

The details: - The search surge suggests people were looking for ways to evacuate injured animals and care for pets during the emergency. - By Aug. 14, emergency teams had found 24 pets alive, all in Cali. - About 240 pets were still reported missing by Aug. 14. - Volunteers have been posting details of lost animals online to help reunite them with families. - On Aug. 13, 72 hours after the earthquake, volunteers rescued a dog alive from rubble. - Veterinarians treated the dog for a leg injury and scratches, and the animal was reported stable. - Urko, Perla, Júpiter, Polo, Urbi and Nala are rescue dogs with the Disaster Response and Prevention Brigade of the Colombian National Army’s Engineering Command. - The dogs were deployed with handlers in Cali and Pereira, with teams also working in Quibdó. - Urko is a Belgian shepherd with eight years of service. - Nala is a seven-year-old Labrador deployed in Chocó. - Polo and Perla are Labradors trained to locate people in damaged or collapsed structures. - Júpiter is a young Belgian shepherd trained to follow a specific scent. - Urbi has the same scent-tracking specialization and was deployed in Cali. - Rescue dogs can detect human scent even when victims are buried under rubble. - Their size and agility let them move across unstable areas faster than human teams and guide rescuers to the right search zones. - Training includes simulated collapsed structures, scent work, confident movement over uneven surfaces and clear signaling when a person is detected. - Successful searches are reinforced with play, food or affection.

Between the lines: - The data points to a broader and often overlooked consequence of natural disasters: pets become part of the emergency response. - The missing-pet search spike also signals how quickly ordinary care needs, like carriers and bandages, become urgent after a quake. - Rescue dogs are both operational tools and public symbols of the response effort.

What's next: - Search teams and volunteers are expected to keep looking for missing pets and survivors as aftershocks and unsafe structures complicate recovery. - People outside Colombia can donate to Una Garra por Colombia, a fundraising campaign created by Fundación Ruta Animal. - Supporters can also contribute to the IFRC emergency appeal backing the Colombian Red Cross’s response to affected communities. - Fundación Ruta Animal says the non-profit has helped thousands of animals since 2020 and supports local rescuers where veterinary care is limited. - The Colombian Red Cross will continue using emergency appeal funds to deliver assistance to affected communities.

The bottom line: - Colombia’s earthquake triggered a search-and-rescue effort that extends well beyond people, with lost pets, volunteers and trained dogs now part of the recovery story.