NEED TO KNOW
- A bomb-sniffing dog triggered an explosion on a well-traveled path in Colombia
- Though Sansón was injured and had to have his leg amputated, he is credited with saving 36 soldiers and hundreds of civilians
- “He will no longer be able to serve, but his legacy will live on in every soldier he bravely protected,” the army wrote of Sansón
A bomb-sniffing dog is being praised for his efforts in detecting an explosive.
Sansón, a dog trained to sniff out bombs in the service of the Colombian military, was helping a group of soldiers scout out a portion of Antioquia when he triggered a bomb in a “community-used path,” Colombia’s army wrote in a post to X.
Though one of his legs was severely wounded in the explosion, Sansón was able to maneuver himself back to his handler, soldier Carlos Eduardo Beleño, and get help.
“His action saved the lives of 36 soldiers and civilians passing through the area,” the army’s post read. “His protective instinct and training prevented a greater tragedy.”
A video that accompanied the army’s post showed Sansón receiving care and medical treatment from multiple soldiers on the scene. His wounded leg was wrapped before he was taken to what appeared to be a veterinary facility.
There, Sansón underwent surgery to amputate his leg. A post from the second division of the National Army credited the dog with saving the lives of hundreds of civilians and dubbed Sansón a “four-legged hero.”
“He will no longer be able to serve, but his legacy will live on in every soldier he bravely protected,” the army’s original post read. “Sansón is a symbol of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.”
The explosive was planted by the National Liberation Army, or ELN, the post claimed. The group is comprised of roughly 6,000 militants using violence to rally against the Colombian government, per CBS News, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.
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Since January, peace negotiations between the Colombian government and ELN have been suspended, thus resulting in continued violence within the country, per CBS.
Sansón’s injury came days after another bombing in the area, according to the outlet. A bomb was attached to a donkey, and the detonation — which was also attributed to ELN — killed one soldier and injured two more.
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