Orion

On 14-16 December 1999 in Vargas State, Venezuela, a natural disaster took place that claimed up to 30,000 lives. The exact number will never be known as Vargas is a coastal region, and it is believed that most of those killed were swept out to sea. Also, due to the political issues that prevailed at the time in that country it appears that no reliable, accurate records are available hence the confusion regarding the death toll.

It started with an unusually high rainfall early in December and culminated in a year’s rain in 3 days. This resulted in landslides of catastrophic proportions. Not only were entire communities destroyed, but the coastline of Venezuela changed. So much debris was brought down by the rain the coastline was extended.

The need for search and rescue dogs became critical, but unfortunately, at the time, there were none.

So why am I telling you this? Well, those of us who work with dogs will tell you that it usually takes anything from 8 months to 2 years to teach the requirements that are needed to train a genuine search and rescue dog, depending on the specialist skills required. Plus, years for a handler to know how to get the best out of one of these dogs. There is, however, a recorded occasion when training was unnecessary, no handler was required, and it appears that some sort of instinctive behaviour took over.

Now Rottweilers don’t always have the best press coverage, and their reputation is that of a guard dog not to be messed around with. But as many people who have one of these dogs will tell you, they are generally a loyal, lovable family pet. They are one of the most popular choices of pet in many countries. If a Rottweiler has a normal home and is bred correctly, there is no reason to suspect that his behaviour will be any different than any other breed.

Orion the Rottweiler

Orion was owned by Mouricio Perez, who was a pilot with a young family and Orion the Rottweiler was a much loved pet.

As the disaster unfolded and as the water levels rose, the Perez family became trapped in their own home and eventually had to be rescued, but there was one problem. The dreaded no pet rule applied, which is understandable but extremely difficult for anybody with a devoted pet. Mr Perez had to make an unenviable choice, he had to put his family first, and Orion was left behind, but even as they departed, Orion suddenly leapt over the balcony and disappeared.

As the family waited with other displaced families for the rains to subsidise and the landslides to cease, reports circulated of a Phantom Rottweiler that would suddenly appear, would repeatedly plunge into the raging torrents and drag people to safety. Like Zorro, The Scarlett Pimpernel and The Lone Ranger he came, did his deed and departed to find the next person to save. The only difference was that the former were all fictional but The Phantom Rottweiler was definitely real. The dog didn’t appear to have a handler and didn’t belong to any recognised rescue organisation, civil or military. In the days that followed, the Phantom Rottweiler gained legendary status. His fame spread like wildfire. Radio reports kept the population transfixed as the disaster played out. All over the state, people talked of nothing else and asked the same question.

Where had this heroic canine come from?

By the end, Orion was credited with saving 37 lives, the youngest and first was an 8 year old girl, and the oldest was an 80 year old man.

Eventually Mouricio Perez was reunited with Orion and was stunned to discover that his beloved family pet was, in fact, the Phantom Rottweiler, now considered to be amongst the elite in search and rescue canines worldwide.

What is quite remarkable is that a Rottweiler has a bite in the region of 300 lbs per square inch pressure, yet none of the people who were rescued made any mention of even a tiny mark on their arms as this huge dog took each of them by an arm and dragged or herded them to safety.

Bearing in mind  that he had no formal training and no handler to guide him, his extraordinary behaviour is almost beyond belief.

Understanding Orion’s behaviour

There is, of course, one thing that can be attributed to his feats, along with other heroic canines who serve us so nobly.

They have no fear of death. They have no religion, no concept of heaven, and no understanding that they may die in their endeavours. And, of course having survived the first rescue and got away with it, why not keep repeating the event?

As to his mental state, well, that is way outside my level of expertise, and I’m not sure it’s always possible to second guess what an animal is thinking. I am sure, however, that the modern behaviourist will have their own theories. As for me I am happy to surmise that as far as Orion was concerned…..

……it was just the right thing to do, and he just happened to be there!!

For his heroic deeds Orion was feted throughout Venezuela.

He was awarded the  medal “Honour the Valour” and a certificate from the government. He also received plaques and medals, and honours from foreign governments and private institutions. He was also invited to appear on several television shows. Sadly his fame was confined almost exclusively to Venezuela, and he is almost unknown in the wider world.

Orion passed away on the 1^st of December 2008  R.I.P.