“Zuma” the rescue dog and his owner answer the call in Baguio landslide

FEATURE

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Amid the mud, rain, and heartbreak brought by a deadly landslide in Guisad Surong, rescuers and volunteers found an unexpected helping hand in Zuma, a 5-year-old Golden Retriever, and his owner, Brett Mitchell, who joined the search for people buried under the debris on Sunday evening, August 9, 2026.

Zuma and Mitchell braved the inclement weather as the search teams worked through the debris in an effort to locate 13 individuals trapped after the landslide buried two houses shortly after 7 p.m. The incident occurred amid heavy and continuous rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.

With his trained nose, Zuma searched through the debris while rescuers and volunteers dug and excavated, helping the teams in their race against time to locate the missing individuals.

The search continued overnight and throughout the following day until all 13 individuals were accounted for, with the last missing victim, an 8-year-old, retrieved at around 2:40 a.m. on August 11.

A trained rescuer with four paws

Zuma underwent a year of search-and-rescue training in Davao and has since participated in several operations, assisting rescuers in locating missing individuals.

His training and experience allowed him to join the difficult search in Guisad Surong, where rescue teams worked under challenging weather and terrain conditions.

For Mitchell, however, helping communities in need is nothing new.

Owner's heart for the Cordillera

Mitchell, who is from Michigan, USA, has previously traveled to the Cordillera to assist communities affected by disasters.

In 2018, following the devastation caused by Typhoon Ompong, Mitchell traveled to Kabayan, Benguet, bringing his personal generator, construction supplies, fuel, and other essential goods, which he donated to affected communities.

He also offered the use of his personal vehicle to help transport relief supplies to areas in need.

Years later, Mitchell and Zuma once again answered the call for help—this time side by side, with Zuma bringing his training and Mitchell bringing his willingness to serve.

In a disaster where every minute matters, their presence offered another reminder that help can come from unexpected places—and sometimes, it comes with four paws.