The "hero" rescue dog that saved at least seven people from the rubble after Ecuador's April 16 earthquake died Friday from heatstroke and a heart attack, a local fire department said this week.
"The Fire Department of the City of Ibarra, we would like to express a brotherly thanks to all the people that they gave us their support and to those that do not also in the passing of our beloved [dog] Dayko,"
stated a translated message from the fire department on Facebook.
The Daily Mail reported that before Dayko died he was working in Pedernales, in the northwest Ecuadorian province of Manabi. The region was one of the most badly damaged in the earthquake, but "Dayko worked tirelessly to stop the death toll from rising."
The fire department said that Dayko had a "good sense of smell and charisma" and established a "beautiful friendship" with his handler, Alex Yela. The website stated that veterinarians failed to revive the dog after he collapsed last week.
Dayko, who had national and international certifications, reportedly died in the early hours of the day.
"Dayko received a massive sendoff, with a funeral attended by dozens of firefighters and other rescue workers as well as his fellow rescue dogs,"
wrote The Huffington Post.
Many on social media expressed their condolences for Dayko.
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