Quake Dogs

Quake Dogs is filled with strange but true stories that are perfect for all dog lovers. There are true tales of heroism, odd and quirky stories, funny stories, sad stories — stories that will surprise you and make you chuckle. With photography by FURtography’s Craig Bullock and words by Laura Sessions.

For those lying injured under the quake rubble, the sound of a USAR dog bark was the sound of hope; for the elderly living alone during the quakes, huddling together with their canine companion brought mutual comfort in the lonely and frightening dark.

There were the dogs who fled their family homes in terror never to be found again; there were the abandoned dogs, taken in by complete strangers who also took care of their vet bills; there were those who ran miles to find their families; and there were those who were so traumatised that they had to be re-homed with families in other cities.

Some were trapped in liquefaction being sucked at like quick sand; there’s a dog who still today warns her family that another after shock is on its way by rushing out into the garden; others have continued to suffer from sustained post-quake trauma and sadly, two dogs included in the book have recently passed losing their two year battles.