Colombian Lawyer Dies Shielding Her Dog During Deadly Cali Earthquake

The story of a young lawyer who defended animals from Pasto has reached a tragic ending. After being trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed because of the earthquake, Lenny Ruiz Fernández was found dead, protecting her dog Salomón.

Lenny Ruiz Fernández, a lawyer who lived in Cali for many years, died when the Ana Pilar building collapsed due to the strong earthquake that affected the country on August 10, 2026, according to Infobae. Rescue workers found her corpse in a position that helped to protect her dog Salomón from all the rubble of the fallen building.

According to ABC News, the earthquake that affected mostly western Colombia was one of the strongest in the last 10 years. More than 200 people were killed in the disaster, and many others became injured or went missing due to this strong earthquake that had hit many places across the country. Many buildings collapsed in the city of Cali because of the disaster.

One of the rescue workers who had worked with the wreckage of the Ana Pilar building found the body of Lenny Ruiz Fernández lying in a position that helped her protect her dog from the disaster. The dog was found by the rescue crew and taken to the hospital for examination, according to El Colombiano. No one can say whether Ruiz Fernández made any efforts to protect Salomón from being hurt.

In Pasto, where Lenny was from, she was known as an active participant in Junta Defensora de Animales de Pasto. This organization is concerned with protecting animals, according to El Tiempo.

Many people were informed about her death on social media sites. Relatives and other people who participated in the protection of animal rights called Lenny Ruiz Fernández a woman who died according to her beliefs. Some family members wrote online that her love for animals and faith in God would become an example. They will meet each other.

The Junta Defensora de Animales de Pasto expressed its sorrow at her death and noted her constant activity in the organization’s interests.

Ruiz Fernández became one of the characters in the stories that emerged from this disaster, which affected many areas of Colombia. Hospitals, schools, and houses were damaged in many cities of Colombia such as Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, and Manizales. Such a situation required the declaration of a national emergency.

Ruiz Fernández became the victim of such a disaster, but for those who know her and her work, she has become an example of defending the weak and animals.