A small dog named Brownie is being credited with saving her caretaker's life in the terrifying moments after a major earthquake began in Colombia.
According to ColombiaOne, Brownie would not stop barking and leaping at her caretaker until the woman got out of bed, and only then did a wall come down on the place where she had been lying.
Here's what to know
The incident took place Aug. 10.
Jackeline, Brownie's caretaker, described what happened from a temporary shelter organized by Pereira's mayor's office. Juan Jiménez, a veterinarian and Medellín animal rights councilman who was there helping with relief efforts and caring for animals affected by the disaster, turned over his Instagram account (@juan_jimenezlara) to Jackeline to tell the story.
On the morning of the earthquake, Jackeline had gotten out of bed to use the bathroom and then returned to lie down. When the quake began, she assumed it was only a minor tremor and stayed where she was.
Brownie responded right away, putting her paws on the bed and repeatedly barking and jumping until Jackeline stood up. A moment later, the wall behind the bed collapsed onto the mattress.
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"If I hadn't gotten up, if God hadn't used this little angel to save my life, I would have died under everything," Jackeline recalled on Instagram, per ColombiaOne's translation.
When Jackeline tried to flee, the front door would not open.
"I don't know how she got up and put her little paw on the door," Jackeline added in the video. "Brownie opened the door."
More background
Brownie's behavior lines up with something scientists have documented for years. Many animals appear to sense earthquakes before humans register them.
Dogs, in particular, may be able to hear high-frequency sounds created as underground rocks shift or detect subtle vibrations that people cannot.
Researchers have also said that dogs may pick up primary seismic waves, an early signal that arrives before stronger shaking. That can give animals a head start.
Scientists still debate how much warning animals truly receive. Some research has noted restless behavior before major quakes, while other experts link those responses to foreshocks rather than true long-range prediction.
What can be done?
Emergency planning in earthquake-prone areas can include pets.
That means keeping leashes or carriers within easy reach, storing pet food and medications alongside emergency supplies, and knowing multiple exit routes in case one becomes blocked.
It can also help to pay attention when animals behave unusually during a tremor or other event. A pet's distress is not a replacement for official alerts, but it may be a sign that something is wrong.
Temporary shelters and veterinary support can be essential after disasters since many families will not leave animals behind. Jiménez's presence at the Pereira shelter was part of that response.
People who want to support those efforts in their own neighborhoods can take local action by connecting with nearby mutual aid groups, shelters, and disaster-response organizations before the next emergency hits.
After surviving the collapse, Jackeline said Brownie means "everything" to her and called the dog "the love of my life."
Where can I learn more?
Brownie isn't the only dog to make a difference in a dangerous moment. These stories look at other times canine instincts changed an outcome or animals were involved in rescue or conservation work.
• From Wales, trained puppies are saving wildlife in Africa alongside conservation teams.
• In Malaysia, rescuers freed a stray after nearly three weeks trapped beneath a plastic container.
• With handler Rita Santos, Hera helps locate wild animal poop for conservation monitoring.
Stories such as these help explain why people put so much trust in dogs when the stakes are high. In disasters and everyday rescue work, that bond can shape what happens next.
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