Mexico’s military on Wednesday welcomed in a special ceremony its most lovable new member, a puppy that will be trained to participate in search and rescue operations, a gift from Turkey after the death in the line of duty of a wolf dog from Mexico that was involved in efforts to locate survivors after devastating earthquake of February 6, which swept the southern part of the Turkish territory and the northern part of the Syrian one.

The three-month-old German shepherd will join the Mexican army’s internationally renowned unit of specially trained dogs being deployed to locate survivors in a country prone to earthquakes and natural disasters.

The pup, with black and brown fur, erect ears and oversized paws, was named “Arkantas” (“friend”, in Turkish) after a digital vote.

Arcadas will be taken over by the trainer who cared for Proteo, the dog who died while participating in a search and rescue operation in Turkey, the Mexican military said.

Mexico sent rescue teams to Turkey after February’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake caused massive destruction in Turkish and Syrian territory, with at least 54,000 dead in both countries.

Proteo, also a German shepherd, was buried earlier this year with full military honors in Mexico.

Arcandas, who had been wearing a khaki collar with a tiny Mexican flag, was welcomed in an official ceremony at a military base in the Mexican capital yesterday. The puppy barked as the national anthem played while his new pack of soldiers and dogs stood at attention.

On behalf of Arcadas, the Mexican Ministry of Defense said on Twitter “thank you to my Mexican friends who welcomed me with great affection, I promise to do my best to become a great search and rescue dog.”