GEORGE NEWS - In the wake of the Neo Victoria building collapse, emergency rescue teams swiftly mobilised to search for survivors. There were an estimated 81 people on the construction site when the structure gave way.

A crucial component of the search and rescue operations through the week has been the sniffer dogs from the K9 units across the country that have been deployed the scene.

These highly trained dogs have been the stars of the show and instrumental in locating trapped individuals from the rubble. These units include the police's K9 Search and Rescue Unit, the Gift of the Givers, and volunteers from the K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa (Sara).

Among the dogs is a young Belgian Malinois (Belgian shepherd) named Bond, aptly named after the famous fictional spy James Bond.

Bond and his partner Sgt Buyisile Makhosonke from Lusikisiki Police K9 Search and Rescue in the Eastern Cape, arrived in George on Tuesday 7 May and they started working early the next morning. Together they spent hours manoeuvring their way through the rubble in a race against time searching for trapped people.

Bond's continued scratching at several points helped identify key areas where victims were found. One of these victims was the miracle patient Gabriël Guamba, a tiler who was trapped underneath the rubble for 118 hours.

"When Bond picks up a scent, he goes down to that point and scratches or puts his nose down," said Makhosonke.

On a normal day they continue training when there aren't emergencies to tend to.

"Practice makes perfect," said Makhosonke.

Makhosonke started training the now 18-month-old Bond in August 2023. "We only have one handler per dog. And this clever boy is mine. Our bond is excellent, and even though he is only still a puppy, he is very clever and very busy."

Malinois have become very popular search and rescue dogs due to their lifespan and agility.

Bond has been actively working at the disaster site with his furry partner Abby and her handler Sgt Willie Visser. Both dogs are trained to find people, dead or alive.

Echo and his handler Mariann Wilson on the site.

Echo, a German pointer, was also part of the rescue team and exemplified the dedication and skill of these canine heroes.

Arriving in George on Monday at 20:00 with his handler, Mariann Wilson, a Sara volunteer, Echo immediately began searching through the concrete slabs for signs of life. 

Trained to detect the scent of humans, these dogs lie down and bark to alert their handlers of a possible discovery, prompting a second dog to confirm the scent before rescuers begin their precise digging.

Bond, Abby and Echo are just three of the many dogs praised for their crucial contributions in George since the collapse.

Since their arrival after midnight on Monday 7 May, Gift of the Givers' team of sniffer dogs, including another Malinois, a rottweiler and a Dutch shepherd, have located four individuals who were subsequently rescued.

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