Roger was considered “too friendly and boisterous” for drug detection work, but his personality was ideal for a search-and-rescue dog. Initially intended to be a drug-sniffing dog, this Labrador retriever has now gained fame as a key figure in Taiwan’s earthquake recovery efforts.
At 8 years old, Roger is one of four search-and-rescue dogs deployed to sift through the wreckage of a recent 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which resulted in at least 16 fatalities. According to The New York Times, Roger recently found the body of a 21-year-old woman in Hualien County, marking the thirteenth confirmed death from the quake.
Roger’s journey to success was not straightforward. Originally trained to detect drugs for customs, his trainers soon realized he wasn’t suited for the task. Taiwan’s Central News Agency reports that the lively puppy was deemed “too friendly and boisterous” for the precise work required. His current handler, Lee Hsin Hung, shared this insight with the Times.
Interestingly, the very traits that disqualified Roger from drug detection—his friendliness and boisterousness—made him an excellent candidate for search-and-rescue missions. Chen Chih-san, captain of the Kaohsiung Fire Bureau’s rescue dog unit, explained to CNN that while narcotic detection dogs must not be too restless or independent, these are desirable qualities in rescue dogs.
Roger’s vibrant personality has also turned him into a media darling. He frequently steals the spotlight in news segments by playfully grabbing microphones or enthusiastically tearing apart stuffed toys. According to the Times, Roger has even appeared on talk shows and is affectionately known as a “little hero” in Taiwanese media.
Having participated in seven search-and-rescue missions over the past four years, Roger is set to retire when he turns 9. The fire bureau plans to find him a loving adoptive home, as reported by CNA.