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An image authentically shows a golden retriever protecting a child in rubble following an earthquake in Venezuela in June 2026.
Rating:On June 24, 2026, twin earthquakes hit the northern coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,700 people. In the aftermath of the quakes, an image spread online purporting to show a golden retriever protecting a child among the rubble of a building.
The image spread on Facebook and Instagram, along with text claiming it showed a dog named Max protecting a young boy named Mateo. The dog and child are surrounded by rubble. The caption read:
WOW: During the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, young Mateo was reportedly trapped beneath the rubble in complete darkness. His faithful Golden Retriever, Max, stayed right by his side without moving an inch. He wrapped his warm body around the child, shielding him from the cold and fear as the world seemed to crumble around them.
Hours later, rescuers' flashlights cut through the debris. They found an unforgettable scene: the boy resting peacefully, held close by a dog whose eyes showed exhaustion but also unbreakable resolve.
Max had completed his duty. He never abandoned his post. In that instant, amid the dust and emotions, it was evident that the real hero possessed golden fur and a heart full of endless love.
Incredible!
(Facebook user David J. Harris Jr.)
The image above is fake and was also likely generated by artificial intelligence. We also found no news coverage about a dog named Max protecting a child named Mateo after the earthquakes in Venezuela.
Snopes ran a reverse image search of the image through Google and Yandex, and found no reliable news outlets covering this story. We also searched for evidence of such a story involving a dog named Max, a child named Mateo and the earthquake in English and Spanish news coverage. Searches of Google, Bing (archived) and DuckDuckGo found no authentic news coverage.
The image itself contains several signs that it was generated by AI. First, the dog's fur is unnaturally smooth in some parts, and rough in others. Second, the child has an unnatural appearance, and his left hand appears almost skeletal. The rubble on the left of the image is also blurred along its edges. The dog's paw is placed unnaturally over the child's body and the shadow of the dog's head over the child is inconsistent.
Snopes analyzed the image using AI-detection tools. UndetectableAI determined the image was likely AI-generated, while SightEngine and Illuminarty said there was a low probability that AI was used. (Research shows AI-detection software is imperfect and readers should consider the tools' results with skepticism.)
There are many real stories of rescue dogs saving people in the aftermath of the Venezuela earthquakes (as well as stories of rescuers saving pets). However, none of these stories feature a dog named Max and a child named Mateo in Venezuela. Such dogs are also trained rescue animals, not pets.
CBS News reported on a story of Victoria, a parrot found clinging to the body of her dead owner under the rubble. Soon after being rescued and taken to an animal hospital, Victoria died as well. We have found no stories of a domestic animal saving people during the Venezuelan earthquakes.
Fake images of children with pets often go viral during natural disasters or wars. Snopes has previously debunked fake images of Palestinian children with their cats amid Israel's bombardment of Gaza, and a fake image of a girl holding her dog and crying after Hurricane Helene in the United States.
Sources"4 Days After Venezuelan Earthquakes, a Small Dog Is Rescued from the Rubble." People, 1 July 2026, https://people.com/dog-rescued-from-rubble-after-venezuelan-earthquake-12009719. Accessed 15 July 2026.
"Death Toll from Venezuela Quakes Rises to 4,734, Government Says." Reuters, 14 July 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-4734-government-says-2026-07-14/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Freitas, Alessandra, and Anabella Gonzalez. "Four-Legged Heroes: International Dog Squad Helps Save Lives after Venezuela Earthquakes." CNN, 5 July 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/05/americas/dogs-rescue-victims-venezuela-earthquakes-latam-intl. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Ibrahim, Nur. "Photo Shows Crying Girl and Puppy After Hurricane Helene?" Snopes, 4 Oct. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/little-girl-with-puppy-hurricane-helene/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Ibrahim, Nur. "Real Images of Palestinian Children in Gaza Holding Their Cats in Destroyed Homes?" Snopes, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/palestinian-children-gaza-cats/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Mueller, Pat. "Stunning Rescues: Search Dogs Save Lives after Venezuela Earthquakes." USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/pets-animals/2026/07/07/watch-pets-rescued-from-venezuela-earthquake-rubble/90836931007/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Romero, Luis. "Tsunami: The Rescued Dog Saving Lives After Venezuela Earthquakes." Forbes, 1 July 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisromero/2026/07/01/tsunami-the-rescued-dog-saving-lives-after-venezuela-earthquakes/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
Victoria, a Pet Parrot, Survived for Seven Days beneath the Rubble after Venezuela's Devastating Earthquakes.". CBS News. www.facebook.com, https://www.facebook.com/reel/1047101448262613/. Accessed 15 July 2026.
