This story began on the night of time, when a prehistoric man or woman fell into a river or lake and was rescued by an unexpected ally. The ancestors of dogs then proved that they were not only unbeatable guardians and helpers of hunters on land. They could also save us in the water. The Red Cross of Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz) is clear about this.
The use of water rescue dogs is common in countries such as Italy and Canada. Their presence, however, is infrequent in Spain, despite its 8,000 kilometers of coastline and the current disastrous campaign (248 drowned since January, 77 in July). The rescue group Mare Nostrum, among other associations, trains specimens to assist bathers in the Valencian Community.
The Red Cross also has assistance dogs, but for mountain rescues or to accompany vulnerable people. Chui (Senior Chui, to distinguish him from his successor) was a legendary golden retriever trained for sea rescue. He only participated in drills and ended up proving his worth in other care tasks, as a key part of a psychosocial emergency team in the Canary Islands.
His teacher was, 47 years old, Catalan by birth, Canarian by adoption and Gaditan by vocation. De Castellví, a Red Cross volunteer since he was a teenager and with all possible qualifications in first aid, is an authority on security and emergencies (areas in which he worked in the European Parliament). He is also a judicial expert in dog training and behavior.
Collaborator of the Animales y Sociedad university chair, founder of the blog Etología canina and author of the book Cuida a tu perro: manual de primeros auxilios y bienestar canino, this expert is in love with dogs. Always having the antenna on allowed him to know that in the Retrievers del Valle de Piélagos nursery, in Cantabria, there was a beautiful puppy, but rejected for sale because of a malformation: it was born without a tail. He adopted him.
Juan Luis de Castellví is now living a new stage in Chiclana de la Frontera, where he continues to help the Red Cross in everything he can. She has three other dogs, Jazz, Sombra and Hera, also adopted. From the beginning he knew that his new companion would be another Chui and that he would train him to save lives at sea. The lifeguards and the City Council of their town have applauded the initiative.
Ideally, he won't have to act, but he'll be ready. The Red Cross of Chiclana de la Frontera has many human and material resources. Drones, boats... If the situation arose, Chui would accompany a rescuer, who would swim to someone in danger without sparing strength so that he and the rescued person could then return to land or to a jet ski holding the dog.
Very old news reports testify to the presence on fishing boats of Newfoundland dogs. The name is no accident: they come from the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. These giants, which can weigh more than 70 kilos, did not hesitate to go after the fishermen who fell into the water and save them from certain death in the sea of hell, much feared for its strong waves and low temperatures ( there, for example, the Galician fishing vessel Villa de Pitanxo was wrecked there).
Although Chui will be larger and stockier than is normal for Goldens, he is more manageable than a Newfoundland. Its double coat will also provide excellent thermal protection. He does not yet wear an identification harness with Red Cross plates because he is growing so fast that they would have to buy him a new one every week. At the moment he is just a puppy with very good abilities. Your learning will not end until 18 months.
It couldn't be in better hands. Juan Luis de Castellví puts a specific sun cream on his nose and belly and takes him to the beach for a while every day, without tiring him. Now he's getting used to the Red Cross vehicles and interacting with the bathers (it's not difficult for him: he's a stuffed animal and he loves being petted). He will then learn to follow lifeguards and carry extra lifesaving equipment.
It would be wonderful if his swimming skills never had to be put to the test, but one thing is certain: like those prehistoric ancestors, he will be loved. Chui will also help in the water people with reduced mobility, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders or any other circumstance that reminds us how much we owe them, our oldest and most loyal allies. The dogs.
