Frida, Mexican Rescue Dog Turned National Icon That Saved Dozens Of Lives, Dies

Frida, the rescue dog that emerged as a hero and symbol of national pride in Mexico, died of natural causes on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Frida, a yellow Labrador retriever dog known for her custom-made doggy goggles and boots, became a social media star and a symbol of Mexicans' resilience after an earthquake that shook Mexico on Sept. 19, 2017. The earthquake left more than 300 people dead in Mexico City and surrounding states. After the rescue missions during the earthquake, Frida's image exploded across the internet and her face graced murals in the capital, Reuters reported.

Frida was born in 2009. Shortly after her birth in 2009, Frida began her search and rescue training. She finished her training in a record span of just eight months.

Frida began her rescue work in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. In the rescue operation in Haiti, she found 12 people alive in the rubble. Later, in 2013, when the Pemex Tower in Mexico City exploded due to a gas leak, she helped in rescue work to locate civilian personnel trapped under rubble, Mexico News Daily reported.

Years later, in 2017, she joined another international relief brigade in Ecuador to help locate trapped people after a landslide. This was barely months before the Mexico City earthquake that saw her become a national icon.

Frida rescued a dozen people and located the bodies of 43 people over nearly a decade. She retired from service in 2019 at the age of 10.

To honor her service, a life-size statue in Frida's honor was unveiled last month outside the Navy's main office in the Mexico City neighborhood of Coyoacan. Frida was present at the unveiling of the statue, making the occasion one of her last public appearances.

"Your life motivates us to continue giving everything to serve Mexico," the statue reads. "Thank you, dear Frida!"

Following Frida's death, the Navy said that they remember Frida for her "independence, concentration, balanced temperament, fearlessness, curiosity," as well as her "empathy towards people."

Frida has "given hope to thousands of Mexican families in the most pressing moments," the head of Mexico's Navy, Jose Rafael Ojeda, said.

Frida was deployed to 53 rescue operations in Mexico, Haiti, Ecuador, and Guatemala throughout her life and has found a total of 55 people, including 43 dead and 12 alive.