April 21, 2015

Trunko, the Super-Dog

In my office, together with the soldiers and Trunko (dark brown dog, barely visible between the two soldiers).

As chance would have it, I visited my colleagues in the communications department on the third floor to review our Shavuot programming and the recent TV program. We heard loud sirens approaching. The department has windows with a good view of the street. Two armored vehicles rush up our street – against traffic – and skid to a halt in front of our building. A small army of camouflaged soldiers with black berets, bullet-proof vests and thigh-holsters jump out of their vehicle and spread out along the street. One of their cars moves ahead and blocks traffic. They form a perimeter around an uncommonly large mini-bus with tinted windows. Dogs fan out and sniff where their sensitive noses take them. After a few minutes of craning our necks and gawking, we realized that was the extent of the excitement and resumed our work.

A couple of hours later, at my desk, soldiers march into my office with their dog. Unfazed, I smile and greet them. This is the routine inspection of the building before major community events. The dog sniffs around my office, but finds nothing interesting except for a bread roll on my desk. I warn him off and he politely backs away from my lunch. They tell their dog “sit” in English and he does so obediently. I learn that the dog is bilingual and that some commands are given in English and others in Spanish.

His name is Trunko and he was the one responsible for finding the “device” outside the Israeli embassy a number of months ago. I call him a hero, give him a “yasher koach” (a sort of “well done” in Hebrew) and a friendly rub of his head and neck.

To my surprise, I find blood on my hand. I inform and show the soldiers who are equally surprised, and do indeed find that he is bleeding from his jaw. It seems that just before, in the line of duty, Trunko was injured, though he never complained nor said a word. He continued his work, determined and unflinching. He was promptly taken for medical attention. I was glad to have played a small part in bringing his plight to his commanding officer’s attention.

This canine hero, who does so much for the Jewish community here, has taken a hit for us.

Thank you Trunko and your colleagues for everything you do for us, remaining vigilant and protecting us.