Hero dog has a leg blown off but saves 'hundreds' of people's lives after sniffing out bomb
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A brave military dog has been called a hero in Colombia after sniffing out a hidden bomb planted by guerrilla rebels, which detonated during a military operation.
Although Sanson ended up saving hundreds of soldiers and civilians, his leg was blown off in the blast.
The dramatic incident, which took place in the mountainous region of Antioquia, came just two days after a separate bombing in the same area involving a donkey rigged with explosives.
That attack killed one soldier and left two others injured.
Sanson was supporting troops during a reconnaissance mission when the device exploded.
According to a statement released by the Colombian army on Friday, the explosive had been planted by fighters from the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, along a path frequently used by residents in the region.
Despite suffering severe injuries in the blast, including a shattered leg, Sanson managed to crawl back to his handler, soldier Carlos Eduardo Beleรฑo, in a moment that authorities described as both heartbreaking and heroic.
The Second Division of the National Army said on social media: 'Our #FourLeggedHero lost one of his limbs but saved the lives of 36 soldiers and hundreds of residents of the La Raya hamlet in Yondรณ #Antioquia, who pass through this area daily.'


Sanson underwent emergency surgery and had one of his legs amputated.
He is now recovering, with video footage released by the military showing the injured dog being treated at an animal hospital.
The army added: 'He will no longer be able to serve, but his legacy will live on in every soldier he bravely protected.'
Officials said the bomb, which had been placed on a path used by the local community, was a direct violation of international humanitarian law and had endangered both military personnel and civilians.
The ELN, a guerrilla group made up of an estimated 6,000 fighters, has been waging an armed insurgency against the Colombian government for decades.
The United States has designated the ELN as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Peace talks between the group and the Colombian government were suspended earlier this year after a spate of deadly attacks, including raids near the Venezuelan border that left dozens dead.
Sanson's bravery has struck a chord in Colombia, with social media users flooding the army's pages with messages of support and admiration for the injured canine.


Earlier this month, a heroic sniffer dog who had rescued nine missing people was killed after eating food laced with nails.
That case has sparked a police investigation and widespread public outrage.