A rescue dog called Lek looks away as an oxygen mask is put on a plush toy during a demonstration at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK (AP) — Sahara, Safari, Lek, Lilly and Naree are among the rescue dogs working at the site of the building that collapsed in Bangkok following Friday's earthquake. They are part of a non-profit that works closely with the Thai government in disaster and humanitarian relief efforts.
The dogs’ main job is to climb onto the rubble, sniffing for signs of humans trapped underneath. After each operation, the canines bathe in an ice-cold bucket of water, are towel-dried and given a medical check. Their paws are inspected for scabs and cuts, and their eyes and ears and checked. They are then put in their respective kennels for a well-deserved rest.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A member of K9 USAR Thailand, a specially trained dog unit, releases rescue dog Lek from a kennel at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Members of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, works at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A rescue dog works at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed on Friday after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Members of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, return from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Dogs and their handler's names along with the operation plan is seen on a white board at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A doctor attends to a dog from the K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, after their return from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A doctor checks the eye of a dog from the K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, after their return from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A members of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, cool their dogs after their return from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A member of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, bathes rescue dog Naree in their camp at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A member of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, wipes her rescue dog after their return from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A members of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, plays with a rescue dog at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A member of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, interacts with rescue dog Naree, who is assigned at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A dog plush toy rests on the helmet of a member of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Lilly, a member of K9 USAR, a specially trained dog unit, rests after returning from a rescue and identifying operation at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April, 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Rescue dogs rest in their camp at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
