GISELLE LICKED HER RESCUER AFTER 5-HOUR VENEZUELA RESCUE
A Venezuela earthquake dog named Giselle licked her rescuer after a five-hour rescue pulled her out from under the rubble.
Giselle, a small dog, was rescued from beneath collapsed debris at Residencial El Palmar in Caraballeda, Venezuela, on June 30, 2026. A search-and-rescue team from El Salvador got her out.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the rescue in an X post. “After 5 hours, we managed to rescue this little dog who responds to the name Giselle, in Residencial El Palmar, Caraballeda,” he wrote.
The moment she came out
People reported that video showed barking coming from underneath the rubble before a team member pulled Giselle out.
Onlookers cheered as she was brought into the open.
Once she was free, Giselle licked her rescuer, CBS News reported.
Video also showed a rescue-team member feeding the dog soft dog food with a syringe.
Bukele then put out a call for anyone who believed Giselle was theirs. “If anyone is her owner, they can approach our teams in the area and prove with photos or videos that she is theirs,” he wrote.
The disaster behind the rescue
Giselle was pulled out as Venezuela dealt with the aftermath of a string of powerful quakes. The New York Post reported that the earthquakes, including magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, began June 24, 2026.
People reported that the second quake was believed to be the largest in Venezuela in more than a century. Local officials said La Guaira was hit hardest, according to People.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced 1,719 deaths at a press conference, People reported.
Giselle was far from the only animal on the job or in need. ABC News Australia reported that more than 130 rescue dogs were helping with the search effort.
What happened next
Giselle’s physical condition after the rescue was reported weeks later. On August 15, 2026, ABC News Australia reported that she had weakness and dehydration but no severe injuries.
Her owner has not been publicly identified. People reported that no owner had been named, and ABC News Australia reported that rescuers were still looking for the person.
