Gabi: Heroic Guard Dog at the Belgrade Zoo

Gabi became famous for her heroic act of defeating an escaped jaguar at the Belgrade Zoo.

Monument of Gabi at the Belgrade Zoo

Gabi, a female German shepherd, was eight years old when she came to the Belgrade Zoo (or the Garden of Good Hope) in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) to work as a guard dog.

One summer night in 1987, a female jaguar had unknowingly escaped from its cage. While patrolling the zoo with another dog (a male German shepherd) and the night watchman Stanimir Stanić, Gabi sensed the large cat in the darkness and went after it - the other dog ran in the opposite direction. When Stanić heard the loud commotion of a fight, he phoned the police. Gabi fought the jaguar throughout the zoo, preventing it from escaping the zoo and from harming anyone including the watchman. Unfortunately, the police were unable to get the cat back in its cage and had to shoot her.

Gabi was seriously injured and lost a lot of blood. She was immediately taken to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, made a full recovery and continued working at the zoo as a guard dog. Because of her brave act, a monument was erected in her honor with the inscription Gabi - her heart was stronger than a jaguar.

Jim: Saves a British Town from Devastation

Jim, an Airedale, made history as a WWI Coastguard dog who saved Ramsgate, a coastal town in England, from widespread damage.

Jim on patrol on the cliffs near Ramsgate.

Jim belonged to a member of the Epple Bay Coastguard station and was trained to alert to the sound of Zeppelins. On May 16, 1915, Jim's loud barks raised the alarm of an approaching Zeppelin carrying a payload of bombs. Because of his early warnings, nine biplanes from the Royal Naval Air Service were able to chase the Zeppelin away.

According to Archivist Jennie Burgess of the Birchington Heritage Trust charity, "We are very proud of Jim in our community and he really does deserve to be recognized at last. His story has been largely lost over the years but we hope to change that... There is no record of Jim getting any honor for his actions but many feel it is time to remember what a great job he did with a posthumous award." This statement was made a few years ago, and I am unable to find if this has yet happened.

Prince: Faithful WWI Dog

Prince became famous after traveling many miles to be with his beloved master at the frontlines of France during the First World War.

In September 1914, Private James Brown joined the war, leaving behind his wife and his dog Prince (a half Irish terrier half collie mix.) That following November, Prince disappeared. Brown's wife searched for the missing dog, but when he was nowhere to be found, she wrote a letter to her husband about the unfortunate news.

Shortly after receiving his wife's letter, about 4-5 days after the dog's disappearance, Prince was once again by his master's side. According to a soldier's letter in a museum magazine, "Here the unexpected happened for on that day Prince's old master, also passing through and seeing a dog which looked very much like his own, called to him and was quickly assured that it was none other than the old friend of the Battalion." Prince managed to make his way from Hammersmith, London to the trenches in northern France.

Prince became the mascot to Brown's regiment, as well as a ratter, and continued to stay after Brown returned home. At the end of the war, the RSPCA reunited the dog with his master. Prince passed away a couple of years later in 1921.

Prince's story is recorded in a 1917 poem A Soldier's Dog written by Captain Newell, who sadly died during an airstrike in 1918:

And did you think you had left me Master,
Was it a kindly thing to do?
You tied me up in the yard for safety,
But did you think I was leaving you?
I s'pose when a man leaves a dog behind him,
He sort o' thinks that the brute won't mind,
But let me tell you that's not dog nature,
Which is altogether a different kind.

You might'nt know that I loved you Master,
The news may come as a small surprise,
But it was fact, and you could have seen it
When you looked deep down in my eyes.
For you were good, you were kind, you fed me,
Did'nt get riled at a doggies whim,
Nor lift your foot as I've heard some men do,
So I told myself, I'll stick to him.

I saw you don your uniform Master,
Soon to be off on the march again,
I thought it prime to be going with you,
But you stooped and put me on the chain.
I strove to tell you I was heart broken.
I talked, I'm sorry to say I growled,
I pleaded as plain as if words were spoken,
But off you went and I stayed - and howled.

The very next day they released me Master,
And away I bolted like a shot.
You I wanted - the missus might miss me
Little I cared if she did or not.
Off I ran till I met some soldiers
Marching along to take the train,
I fell in line, for if I kept with them
I felt dead sure to meet you again.

A funny old tyke they called me Master,
But I was as nice as I could be.
I wagged my tail to them most politely
And so they smuggled me o'er the sea.
It made me ill, I was rather frightened
On the water and out in the fog,
But I kept pretending I was happy
Bucking up like a soldier's dog.

I did'nt feel safe on landing Master,
Though deuced glad to smell earth once more.
I sneaked at night time adown the gangway,
To wag my tail on a foreign shore.
I followed the men where they were camping.
Some of them gave me my grub to eat,
And when for the front the train-load started
There was your humble under the seat.

And so I came to the trenches Master
Searching for you, Sir, just the same.
Then some-one took a look at my collar,
And there behold was my master's name.
So then at last they brought me near you,
And set me down without a remark.
I could'nt keep my tail from wagging,
And how you jumped when you heard me bark.

This is'nt Hammersmith is it Master?
The shot and shell make a rare to do.
But look in my eyes and see I'm happy,
Anywhere's home along o' you,
Take me with you out to the trenches,
Out in the shots, the mud, the rain.
I wont worry, whatever happens.
Only - don't leave me again.

A Soldier's Dog, Inspiring War Poem Acrylic Print
by inspiring_gifts

Nelson: Saves Man in Melbourne Flood

Nelson, a Newfoundland, inspired the Australian folk band The Bastard Children to write a song about his heroic act in the 1880s.

Nelson and Bill Higginbotham

Nelson's heroic act occurred on November 15, 1881 when a cabman named Thomas Brown was swept away by flood waters in Melbourne, Australia. According to the Melbourne Herald in 1931 (50 years after the event), "Close to the gutter, which was a torrent five feet deep, seething to a culvert 50 yards down the hill, a cabman was trying to keep his horse still while waiting for his passengers. At length he clambered down to quieten the beast, and at that moment it tossed its head and knocked him insensible into the gutter. In a moment he was being swept down toward the culvert."

William John (Bill) Higginbotham and his dog Nelson heard Brown's cries for help. By nature, Newfoundlands are water dogs. Their muscular build, thick double coat and webbed feet make them excellent swimmers in rough conditions. Nelson jumped into the stream and caught hold of Brown's clothing. Because of the force of the water, the dog could not keep his grip and Brown swept quickly down the block. This happened a few more times before Nelson, Bill and another man were able to haul Brown out of the water. The cabman's clothes were badly torn, believed to be a result from Nelson's efforts to catch hold of him.

Nelson was presented with a silver dog collar for his heroism. According to Bill's son Charles, "Nelson never fully recovered from the effects of the choking struggle in the culvert, although he was able to take part in the annual procession of the Albion Fire Brigade six months later, and half the city turned out to see him presented with a silver collar for his part in the rescue." The collar can be found in the National Museum of Australia.

Nelson the Newfoundland

Prince and His Handler: A Happy Ending to a Sad Story

Prince and his handler Ed Reeves served together in Vietnam for a little over one year. Years later after having to leave Prince behind, Reeves learned that Prince was one of the very few war dogs to return home after the US troops pulled out.

Ed Reeves and his scout dog Prince.

Ever since he was a child, Ed Reeves always wanted a German shepherd. Before being drafted into the Army in 1969, the young Reeves helped a police officer train his city's very first police dogs. It was this passion that led him to volunteer for dog training school.

Reeves spent five months training Prince to become a scout dog. Their hard work paid off. Prince, who was responsible for sniffing out enemy troops, mines and tripwires, is credited for saving many lives, including Reeve's... "If it wasn't for him [Prince], I wouldn't be here today. I owe him my life a couple of times. He kept me from stepping on a mine and he kept us out of ambushes."

In 1971, Reeve's returned home and Prince stayed in Vietnam working with a new handler. Reeves said the hardest thing about serving in the Vietnam War was leaving Prince behind. In his book My Search for My Vietnam Scout Dog Prince, Reeve's recounts the last few moments with his dog "I cooked up two steaks, put them on a plate, cut them into little pieces, and went to Prince’s dog house. We sat on the ground and ate the steaks piece by piece. I wasn’t supposed to have contact with Prince because he had a new handler, but I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity."

Some 4,000 dogs served in the US military during the Vietnam War, and many died doing so. It is reported that over 10,000 lives were saved because of the dogs and their handlers. When the US pulled out, only 204 dogs exited Vietnam to continue their military career in the Pacific and US. The thousands of other dogs that survived were left behind to be euthanized or given to the South Vietnamese Army who were not trained to use the dogs - some believe these dogs were used as a food source.

Thirty-five years later, Reeves learned Prince was one of the 204 dogs who exited Vietnam. According to military records, Prince continued his military career as a drug-sniffing dog for US Customs. Eventually, he made his way to a kennel in San Diego where he passed away in 1983 of natural causes.

Tomorrow (Sep 28, 2019) there will be a ceremony at Motts Military Museum near Columbus, Ohio to officially dedicate a memorial to the Vietnam War dogs and their handlers. The monument will feature a life-sized bronze statue of an Army soldier and his dog, and a black granite wall with the names and tattoo numbers of all 4,235 dogs that served and the names of 300 handlers that died in Vietnam.

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Alexander the Great Names a City After His War Dog Peritas

Some believe that if it wasn't for Peritas, Alexander the Great would have died before his time - changing the course of history.

Alexander III of Macedon earned the epithet "the Great" due to his success as a military commander. Being a noble and commander, Alexander had many dogs including hunting and war dogs. His favorite was his war dog Peritas, who accompanied him during his military exploits. Many believe Peritas was a Molossian, an enormous and powerful breed of ancient Greece that was bred to fight in war. According to the AKC, "Alexander is known to have crossed the giant Macedonian and Epirian war dogs with the short haired "Indian" dogs to create the [now extinct] Molossus. This animal is easily recognized as the great forefather of the Neapolitan Mastiff." However, some believe Peritas was more of an Afghan Hound or Saluki, rather than an early Mastiff type.

According to Pliny the Elder (a Roman author AD 23 - AD 79), it was probably Alexander's uncle, the King of Epirus, who gave him Peritas because the dog had managed to attack and beat both a lion and an elephant. Alexander had a special bond with Peritas, just like he did with his horse Bucephalus. Both animals had a city named in their honor after their deaths. According to Plutarch (a Greek biographer AD 46 - AD 120), after recalling the story of Bucephalus, "It is said, too, that when he lost a dog also, named Peritas, which had been reared by him and was loved by him, he founded a city and gave it the dog's name." There are two versions of how the brave dog saved his master's life and died doing so.

One says Peritas died after bringing down a war elephant that was charging towards Alexander, and the other claims the dog died when saving Alexander's life from the Mallians during an attack in India. The second version says Alexander was trapped behind fortifications away from his troops, and Leonnatus (an officer of Alexander) who heard Peritas howling behind him told the dog to run to Alexander. Peritas fought his way to his wounded master and was able to hold the Mallians off long enough for Alexander's men to arrive and save him. When the men arrived, Peritas who was badly wounded had his head on his master's lap and died.

Peritas died around 350 BC, and besides naming a city after the brave and heroic dog, Alexander the Great honored Peritas with a large funeral and ordered the local residents to honor his dog's death every year with a festival.

Sled Dog Heroes of WWI

During WWI the French army launched a secret mission involving sled dogs. Just recently, almost 100 years later, did the French reveal information about the mission for the benefit of the documentary Sled Dog Soldiers.

Sled dogs in the French army.

The winter of 1914 was incredibly hard on the French soldiers in the Vosges mountains due to heavy snowfall. Traveling by vehicle or horse was impossible, meaning the troops could not receive important supplies such as food, warm clothes and ammunition. It also meant they could not transport their wounded soldiers.

Captain Louis Joseph Moufflet and Lieutenant Rene Robert Haas, who use to work as gold diggers in Alaska, knew sled dogs would be the perfect solution in preventing another disastrous winter. After convincing the French army to use the dogs, a secret mission was organized to bring 400 of the best sled dogs to France. They only had a few months to accomplish this feat before the winter of 1915 set in.

Moufflet went to Quebec City, Canada to find the majority of the dogs and Haas, who also happened to be an experienced musher, went to Nome, Alaska. After countless trials and tribulations, the two men found over 400 dogs.

Getting the dogs to France was not an easy task. First, Haas had to get his 100 plus dogs to Quebec. They took a boat from Nome to Vancouver, Canada, then a train to Quebec. All the dogs survived the long trip. Until the two Officers were able to find a boat to get them to France, which turned out to be quite a challenge at that time, they hid the dogs in a hangar - next to an explosive-testing facility that ended up benefiting the dogs by getting them use to explosions. Fortunately they were able to find a boat just in the nick of time. In fact, their boat was the last to leave Quebec City that winter before the St. Laurence River froze over. They arrived on the Vosges Front on December 15, 1915. Four dogs lost their lives during the 6,000 mile journey.

The dogs definitely proved to be helpful. The best distance achieved, with only nine dogs and close to 700 pounds of weight on the sled, was almost 75 miles in one day. In another successful mission, the sled dogs were able to transport 90 tons of ammunition in four days.

The sled dogs went on to help the French soldiers survive the winters and win multiple battles throughout WWI, but like humans, many died in combat.

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Boomer: A Fireman's Three-Legged Dog Hero

Boomer made history after he tried to save his master in a rather unusual way.

A stone monument, that sits next to some railroad tracks in MaKanda Illinois, is dedicated to a three-legged dog named Boomer. It is said the dog was running alongside a train that was carrying his master when a fire broke out. To help save his master, Boomer attempted a really difficult maneuver to put the fire out. He lifted one of his three legs while in mid-run and apparently was hoping his urine would put out the train's fire. It didn't, and poor Boomer died trying.

The plaque on the monument reads "In memory of Boomer the hound dog. Tradition says he dashed his life out against the iron abutment of the railroad bridge 300 feet south of this point on September 2, 1859, while running along on three legs trying to put out the flame in a hotbox on the speeding train of his beloved fireman-master."

Legend was that Boomer could outrun trains, and the railroad did not like that.

Moustache: A French Poodle Who Served in Two Wars

Moustache became famous in history for having participated in two wars - the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic War.

An engraving of Moustache at the Battle of Austerlitz

Moustache, a black French poodle, was born around September 1799 in Normandy. At the age of six months, the dog belonged to a kind hearted grocer in Caen. Despite a good life, Moustache found a new one after having seen a regiment of French grenadiers passing through town. The poodle took a liking to the men and followed them as they marched along the streets. After three days, the drum major allowed Moustache to accompany the unit on campaign.

Moustache headed to Italy, crossing the Great St Bernard Pass through the Alps, with Napoleon Bonaparte's army. On one stormy night in the spring of 1800, while the regiment camped near Belbo, Moustache alerted the soldiers of a sneak attack as the Austrians approached. His early warning allowed the French to repulse their attack. For his heroism, Moustache was formally placed on the roll as a grenadier. He was given a collar bearing the regiment's name, and was entitled to a grenadier's rations and a once a week grooming from the unit's barber.

Shortly after, while en route to Spinetta Marengo, Moustache was injured in his left shoulder from a bayonet. He was treated but not fully recovered during the battle of Marengo. Despite his injury, he participated in the battle. "He marched always keeping close to the banner, which he learned to recognize among a hundred: and... never ceased barking, until evening closed upon the combatants of Marengo." It was also around this time that Moustache saved the life of an officer who was being attacked by the enemy's dog. Moustache fought the larger and stronger dog until the other dog was shot dead, but lost an ear from the musket ball that killed the Austrian dog. Shortly after the French victory at Marengo, Moustache left the grenadiers and joined a company of mounted cuirassiers.

In 1805, during the battle of Austerlitz, Moustache received a medal for his bravery and dedication after recovering the French flag from a fallen regimental standard bearer, and losing a leg from an artillery blast while doing it. His medal was engraved with the words "He lost his leg in the battle of Austerlitz and saved the colors of his regiment." Moustache's reputation was well known and orders were given that wherever he goes "he should be welcomed, en camarade; and thus he continued to follow the army. Having but three paws and one ear."

In 1809, during the battle of Essling, Moustache met a female poodle amongst the enemy. She followed Moustache back to the French camp, they stayed together for about a year, and even had a litter of puppies which the women in the camp took care of.

Moustache moved on, following a unit to Spain. On March 11, 1812, the heroic poodle was struck by a cannonball and killed during the battle of Badajoz. It is said Moustache was buried on the battlefield with a gravestone engraved with the words "Here lies the brave Moustache."

Seven Honored Dogs Who Saved Lives From the Blitz Bombings

Seven dogs became famous in history as heroes for having saved many lives from ruined buildings during the German bombing campaign on British cities during WWII.

When the Germans failed to cripple Britain's air power in anticipation of a land invasion, Hitler decided to create sheer terror as his weapon of choice in hopes that the government would surrender. On September 7, 1940 the Luftwaffe (the Nazi German Air Force) began a bombing campaign against London and other British cities. The bombings, which occurred mostly at night, became known as the blitz - an abbreviation of the German word blitzkrieg meaning lightning war. The attacks continued for eight months, ending May 11, 1941. When over, more than one million people were homeless and tens of thousands were injured and killed (including many civilians), but the Luftwaffe failed at what they were hoping for. More would have died if it weren't for the following dogs:

Irma

Irma was initially a messenger dog in the war but was later retrained to become a search and rescue dog. She had a remarkable ability of finding victims buried under difficult places and even had a special bark to let her handler know if the buried person was alive or dead. On one occasion, Irma signaled with an alive bark and rescuers dug out a man who was apparently dead, but the man eventually stirred proving Irma was right. Irma and a young dog named Psyche who was being trained helped locate 233 people, 21 of whom were found alive.

Beauty

Not all victims from the blitz attacks were people, many were beloved pets. Beauty belonged to Bill Barnett, a PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals - UK veterinary charity) superintendent who led a rescue squad for animals. Barnett would take Beauty with him on rescue missions to keep him company, but the dog soon wanted to join in on the search. She started to dig in the rubble and within minutes Beauty found a cat, her first of 63 animals she went on to save.

Jet

Jet was initially trained in anti-sabotage work and was later trained in search and rescue duties. He helped save over 100 people from ruined buildings. Historian Ian Kikuchi, who works at Imperial War Museum London said "Even when searching piles of the remains of factories full of dangerous chemical and poisonous smoke, Jet's incredible sense of smell was still able to detect survivors." He was not afraid to enter burning buildings, and once found an elderly woman in a building that was already considered thoroughly searched.

Rip

Rip was a stray dog after his home was bombed and was adopted by the Air Raid Warden. He was made the unit's mascot but began sniffing out casualties when taken to the bombing sites, a job he enjoyed doing. Like Beauty, he was never trained for search and rescue work but took to it instinctively. He was credited for rescuing more than 100 victims.

Peter

Before Peter was offered to the government for war service, he was always getting into trouble such as fighting with other dogs and chewing anything he could get hold of. He was trained as a rescue dog and proved to be a good one. He was credited for finding many bodies and saving six lives, including the life of a small boy. It is said Peter's speed in finding victims saved the men many hours of useless digging.

Rex and Thorn

Rex, trained as a rescue dog, saved 65 people by physically dragging them out of the rubble and leading rescuers to those he couldn't. It is said his uncanny intelligence and outstanding determination helped him find victims in burning buildings despite the intense heat, thick smoke and smouldering debris.

Thorn, who came from a distinguished line of search and rescue dogs, was fearless when finding casualties in unstable situations. Rescuers were baffled in how well he could pick up a scent, including the time he found a family trapped under a burning house, having saved all of their lives.

All seven dogs were awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in 1945 for the outstanding work they did during the German blitzkrieg attacks.

Cairo: Part of Navy SEAL Team that Killed Osama bin Laden

Cairo became famous as the dog who participated in the raid (Operation Neptune Spear) that killed the notorious leader of al-Qaeda, the organization that was responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the US.

The deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in US history happened on September 11, 2001 when 19 militants belonging to al-Qaeda caused extensive death and destruction in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. After the attacks, hundreds of dogs helped man during this difficult time. Ten years later, one dog named Cairo (a Belgian Malinois) helped man bring justice to the man responsible for the attacks - Osama bin Laden.

On May 2, 2011 bin Laden was killed shortly after 1:00 am PKT after two Black Hawk helicopters carrying Navy SEALs from Team Six, a Pakistani-American translator, and Cairo landed (one was a crash landing) outside the Pakistan compound where the al-Qaeda leader lived. The SEALs brought Cairo along to detect bombs, search out concealed enemies and find secret doors or passageways in the compound. However, because of the helicopter crash, the task list changed. Cairo, four SEALs and the translator were used to help secure the perimeter around the dwelling while six other SEALs stormed the compound. Thirty-eight minutes later bin Laden was shot dead.

Navy SEAL dogs are trained at a very early age to perform missions by sea, air and land. They can swim, parachute and rappel into action, and are as well-equipped as their human teammates. On the night of the raid, Cairo wore a customized body vest made of Kevlar with a night vision camera, radio and other attachable gadgets - costing close to $30,000.

"The capability they [the dogs] bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine," said General David Petraeus in 2011. "By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we have in our industry. Our Army would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource."

Four days after the raid, in a private ceremony honoring Seal Team Six, the squadron commander mentioned Cairo's role to President Obama. "There was a dog?" Obama interrupted. The President was told that Cairo was in an adjoining room, and Obama said "I want to meet that dog." "If you want to meet the dog, Mr. President, I advise you to bring treats," the commander joked. The President met Cairo. I am not sure if he had a treat to give, but he did pet the heroic dog.

Time magazine awarded Cairo its prestigious Animal of the Year award in 2011.

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Harvey: Civil War's Barking Dog

Harvey became famous in history as a Civil War dog who stood by his men, during the good and bad times.

During the Civil War it was not uncommon for soldiers to bring their dogs with them. Daniel M. Stearns of Wellsville, Ohio was one of them. He and his dog Harvey, a bull terrier, became part of the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Company F in 1862. Harvey, one of three mascot dogs with the company, was the only one to serve the full three years of active duty with the unit - longer than most of the men. During his time of service, he would bark at the enemy and was wounded at least twice when his company went into battle. The first time he was wounded he was captured and returned the next day under a flag of truce.

The soldiers of Company F often wrote home about the dogs. Captain William Jordan wrote his children describing Harvey and Colonel as "having the run of the regiment." The two dogs would sleep in whatever tent that best suited them for the night. Jordan also wrote to his family how Teaser, the other canine mascot, ran after one of the company's pet squirrel and how Harvey saved the rodent by picking it up in his mouth and bringing it out of harm's way. Another letter, written by Private Adam Weaver to his brother, told about Harvey attending campfire sing-alongs. Harvey would sway from side to side and bark while the men sang. Some believed the dog was joining in with the music but according to Weaver "My idea is that the noise hurts his ears as it does mine!"

Stearns was proud of his dog and when promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1862 he had a special brass tag made to hang on his dog's collar that read "I am Lieutenant D.M. Stearns dog. Whose dog are you?" In 1865 Company F mustered out of the military when the Confederate Army surrendered. After the war, the regiment had a portrait of Harvey painted so they could display it at reunions, and their favorite mascot's picture was on the badges the men wore during the social gathering.

Harvey survived his wounds and it is believed he lived his remaining days with Stearns.

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Romey: Johnstown Flood Hero

Romey became famous in history for his heroic act during the deadliest disaster in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Kress with daughter and Romey

The people of Johnstown, Pennsylvania were accustomed to some flooding after heavy rains and fast-melting snow, as their city was built in a valley between two rivers. However, on May 31, 1889, the 25,000 inhabitants were unprepared when a dam at the foot of a mountain lake 14 miles above the city broke. Twenty million tons of water swept through the city killing over 2,200 people. Many corpses were found miles down the valley (one body was said to have been found more than 100 miles away in Steubenville, Ohio) and the bodies of some victims were not found until 20 years later.

Charles Kress and his wife, child and housemaid were among the survivors. They were able to escape the water by climbing to the rooftop of their home, but as the water churned around the house Mrs. Kress, her daughter and the housemaid fell into the water. The family dog, a Newfoundland named Romey, jumped into the water to rescue them. Newfoundlands are strong dogs that were bred to swim in rough waters. The women and child were able to latch on to Romey as he towed them back to the edge of the roof where Mr. Kress pulled them to safety.

The news of Romey's heroic act can be found in the archives of the Johnstown Flood Museum.

Rebuilding Johnstown took years. This was the first major peacetime relief effort for the American Red Cross.

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Swansea Jack: Canine Lifeguard

Jack became a famous dog in history for saving lives from the docks and riverbanks of Swansea.

Jack, born in 1930 and owned by William Thomas, was a black retriever who loved to lounge on the docks of Swansea. In 1931, Jack saved a 12 year old boy from drowning in the nearby river. The rescue was unnoticed by the community, but the boy maintained it was Jack who jumped into the water and pulled him to safety. This astonishing act went unreported, but a few weeks later Jack rescued another distressed swimmer in front of a crowd of people who watched anxiously in suspense. This time his heroic story appeared in the paper, and the local council was so impressed that they presented Jack with a silver collar.

Swansea Jack, as the dog came to be known, continued to save lives. He was said to patrol the docks and beaches, ready to rescue those who needed his help. Jack soon became a celebrity and often appeared with Thomas at shows and functions, where people were photographed alongside the famous dog.

In 1936, Jack was awarded Bravest Dog of the Year by the London Star newspaper. He received a silver cup from the Lord Mayor of London, and he was given two bronze medals from the National Canine Defense League (now known as Dogs Trust).

Jack died at an early age in 1937 after eating rat poison near his home. According to a news article after his death "He had not only perfect courage and the instincts of his grand breed; but he had an innate genius for knowing just how and where to seize even the most hysterical human, struggling in deep water; and how best to tow the victim safely to shore."

Jack's body was wrapped and buried in Thomas's home garden. The Swansea public felt Jack deserved recognition for all the lives he saved and suggested the dog should have a proper burial place befitting his heroism. A local undertaker made a coffin for Jack's body, which was exhumed from Thomas's garden, and his body was laid to rest near the sea on the promenade in Swansea, at a public ceremony. One year after his death, to commemorate his bravery, a memorial stone was erected on the burial site. The epitaph reads:

ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF
SWANSEA JACK
THE BRAVE RETRIEVER WHO SAVED 27 HUMAN
AND 2 CANINE LIVES FROM DROWNING
LOVED AND MOURNED BY ALL DOG LOVERS
DIED OCTOBER 2ND 1937 AT THE AGE OF 7 YEARS
NE'ER HAD MANKIND MORE FAITHFUL FRIEND THAN THOU
WHO OFT THY LIFE DIDST LEND TO SAVE SOME HUMAN
SOUL FROM DEATH
OWNER & TRAINER WM. THOMAS

In 2000, Jack was named Dog of the Century by Newfound Friends.

Chips: Decorated War Hero

Chips became famous in history as the most decorated dog hero of WWII but his medals were later taken away because he was considered equipment and not a soldier who risked his life to save fellow soldiers.

During World War II, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, thousands of patriotic pet owners across America donated their dogs to the K-9 Corps for the war effort. Chips, a German shepherd mix, was one of the first dogs to be shipped overseas.

Chips, three years old at the time, was donated by the Wren family of Pleasantville, NY and was sent to Front Royal, Virginia for training as a sentry dog in 1942. Spirited and quick to learn, Chips served bravely with General Patton's Seventh Army in Africa, Italy and other parts of Europe.

In the invasion landing at Casablanca, Chips and his handler Private John Rowell were among the first to go ashore while bombers attacked from above. Rowell quickly dug a foxhole for him and his dog - the holes were barely deep enough to protect them from the fragments that whizzed over them. When the planes left, Rowell leaped up and began deepening his hole to make it safer before the planes returned. Chips soon caught on to the idea and began scooping his own foxhole deeper.

In the fighting that followed, Chips marched with the battalion by day and stood guard at night. In January 1943, Chips was one of four dogs who patrolled the wired encampment where President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stayed while attending the historic Casablanca Conference.

In July 1943, Chips and his battalion landed on the shore of southern Sicily near Licata in Operation Husky. As the platoon worked its way inland they came under fire from a disguised pillbox (a dug-in guard post). The soldiers immediately hit the ground. Chips broke free from Rowell and launched himself right into the pillbox. Rowell later said, "Then there was an awful lot of noise and the firing stopped." The men heard someone inside the nest fire a pistol. Rowell said he then "saw one Italian soldier come out with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man. Three others followed, holding their hands above their heads." Chips sustained minor injuries including a wound and powder burns from the bullet that grazed his scalp. Chips was treated, returned to duty that night and helped capture ten more Italians.

Within days the story of Chips' heroism swept through the division and the brave dog was awarded the Silver Star for valor and the Purple Heart for his wounds. The platoon's commander, Major General Lucian K. Truscott, put in a recommendation that Chips receive the Distinguished Service Cross for “courageous action in single-handedly eliminating a dangerous machine gun nest and causing surrender of its crew.” War Department regulations prohibited the awarding of decoration to animals, who were considered military equipment, but the commander's attitude was "regulations be damned". He waived them and on November 19 in Italy Truscott personally awarded Chips the Distinguished Service Cross.

In July 1944, newspapers published stories about Chips' heroism and the medals he received. The War Department got word of this and conducted an investigation. Three months later, Chips' medals were taken away. To honor Chips, his unit (the 3rd Infantry Division) unofficially awarded the brave dog a theater ribbon with an arrowhead for an assault landing, and battle stars for each of his eight campaigns.

Chips greeted by his owners upon his return to the US - Dec 1945

In the fall of 1945, Chips was given an honorable discharge and was taken back to Front Royal where he was retrained so he could return to the Wren family. When Mrs. Wren was asked about Chips' medals, she said she thought dogs ought to have medals, but she had a feeling Chips himself would have preferred a pound of hamburger.

Chips died a few months later at the age of six and was buried at the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery. In 1990, Disney made a TV movie based on his life entitled Chips, the War Dog.

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Dzhulbars: Soviet Sniffer Dog

Dzhulbars, a Soviet war dog, became famous in history for detecting thousands of explosives during World War II.

Soviet mine detection dogs (also referred to as sniffer dogs) combed more than 9,000 square miles of land and discovered more than four million enemy charges and land mines during and after the Second World War. Unlike metal detectors, the dogs were able to sniff out bombs not only in metal casings but also in wooden casings, and they were able to find those at a depth of almost five feet. Dzhulbars was one of those sniffer dogs. He was said to have been gifted with an incredible sense of smell for detecting explosives. Between September 1944 to August 1945 he was credited for finding 7,468 mines and 150 shells, having saved many lives and many architectural masterpieces including castles and cathedrals in Kiev, Prague and Vienna.

On March 21, 1945 Dzhulbars was awarded the Soviet Medal for Battle Merit, the only Soviet dog to be awarded a full military decoration for his service in WWII. On June 24, 1945 Dzhulbars and other war dogs participated in the Moscow Victory Parade, the longest and largest military parade ever held on Red Square. Dzhulbars was recovering from injuries and unable to walk in the procession so it was ordered that the wounded dog be carried across Red Square cradled in Stalin's own military overcoat.

After the war, the big-name Dzhulbars starred in the Soviet movie adaptation of Jack London's White Fang.

Bamse: Norwegian Sea Dog

Bamse became famous in history as the mascot to the Norwegian ship Thorodd during the Second World War. He looked after his crew, saved two lives and was loved by all.

Bamse (pronounced Bump-sa, the Norwegian word for teddy bear) was a Saint Bernard belonging to Captain Erling Hafto. During WWII, before the fall of Norway, the Captain and his crew on the Thorodd were able to escape to the UK. The ship was stationed at Dundee and Montrose in Scotland and was used as a minesweeper.

The Captain took Bamse with him and made him an official member of the Royal Norwegian Navy - the ship's mascot. The crew took an immediate liking to him, and Bamse became a guardian to them. During action he would stand guard in the foremost gun tower, wearing a steel helmet, and would not leave his post until all was safe. During downtime he would go ashore and roam the area, wearing a sailor's collar and mariner's cap, becoming a favorite among the townspeople. The crew even bought Bamse a bus pass which he wore around his neck. He would often board the bus on his own and climb to the top deck where he was allowed to sit.

Bamse knew which pubs the crew frequented and when they had to be back on the ship. He would keep a watchful eye on his men. He made sure they returned to the ship before curfew and when a pub brawl involved one of his men he would place his front paws on the offender's shoulders, putting an immediate end to the fight. Sometimes Bamse would enjoy a pint of beer with the guys. On one reported occasion, the pub's cat was sitting on the bar where Bamse wanted to sit and the determined dog stood up and casually pushed the cat aside to make room for his bowl of beer.

Bamse was credited for saving the lives of two of his men. One was Lieutenant Commander Nilsen. While walking along the quayside, the Commander was attacked by a man with a knife. Bamse saw the attack, bounded up the quayside, and pushed the attacker into the water. The other was a crew member who was believed to have been drunk. The man fell overboard and Bamse was the only one to notice the fall. He alerted the men with his loud barking, jumped into the water, and struggled to keep the man afloat until both of them were safely pulled aboard.

The crew loved Bamse. When Captain Hafto was assigned to another post, they refused to return to the ship unless the Captain agreed to leave Bamse with them. Hafto finally gave in, with the understanding Bamse would be returned to him at the end of the war.

On July 22, 1944 Bamse died of a failed heart in Montrose. He was about seven years old. Bamse was buried with full military honors in the sand dunes on the banks of the South Esk River in Montrose. Norwegian sailors, allied servicemen and townspeople were present. Schools even closed for the day so hundreds of children could attend the funeral.

Evelyn Le Chene in her book Silent Heroes describes the effect of Bamse’s death:

"Grown men who had stoically endured a cruel war, separation from their families, grave losses and exile from their country cried openly. Grief was not confined to the Thorodd it was instantly echoed far and wide, in the naval depots, on visiting ships, buses and in all local schools. There could not have been a more loving bond between two peoples, the Norwegians and Scots, than that which Bamse had created".

Bamse was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2006 for his exceptional acts of gallantry and devotion to duty, the only WWII animal to have received this honor. Captain Hafto's daughter Vigdis accepted the medal on behalf of Bamse. That same year a statue of Bamse was unveiled by Prince Andrew on Wharf Street in Montrose. Every 10 years the Norwegian Navy sends a ship to Scotland to hold a commemorative ceremony for Bamse.

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9/11 Dog Heroes

Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, thousands of courageous heroes were there to help at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Hundreds of those heroes were dogs.

The following are just a few of the many dogs who put their lives at risk to help people during a tragic time in US history.

Trakr

Genelle Guzman-McMillan was working on the 64th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower the day the terrorists attacked. Her and about 15 employees from her team of Port Authority workers tried to evacuate the building after American Airlines flight 11 crashed into it. The building began to collapse as Genelle was making her way down the stairs. She made it to the 13th floor before being pinned under cement and steel. She laid in darkness under the rubble for 27 hours before she was rescued. Only one of her co-workers survived. Genelle was the last person to be found alive.

Trakr, a German shepherd from Canada, was the one who traced Genelle's scent, leading rescuers to her. "It's so awesome that the dogs could have this kind of sense, to find people buried under the rubble," Genelle told Animal Planet for their documentary Hero Dogs of 9/11. After two days of hard work, Trakr collapsed from smoke inhalation, chemical exposure, burns and exhaustion. He was treated and released to return home with James Symington, his handler and Canadian police officer. Trakr passed away in 2009.

Riley and Bailey

Eileen Roemer was an FBI agent and Navy Reservist at the time of the 9/11 attacks. After taking a course in body recovery at the FBI, she had her dog Riley trained to be a search and recovery dog. He proved to be great at his job and enjoyed doing the work. Bailey came to Eileen through an animal control officer who had found him chained to a post at a breeder's kennel. He was emaciated, had rotting teeth, and was covered with fleas and ticks. Eileen's plan was to get Bailey back to health and give him to a family she knew. The plan fell through so Eileen kept him. She soon discovered he had the drive and abilities of being a search and recovery dog, so she decided to have him trained.

On that fateful day in September, Eileen was working at the Pentagon. She got off work at 7:30 in the morning and about two hours later American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. Eileen, Riley and Baily went to the Pentagon searching for human remains. This was Bailey's first search and recovery. The dogs worked 12 hour shifts searching through the debris for 12 long days. Despite Bailey's abused past by humans, he (and Riley) helped bring closure to many families of 9/11 victims. Riley passed away in 2005 and Bailey in 2010.

Roselle

This heroic dog story involves a guide dog named Roselle belonging to Michael Hingson. Hingson was working on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower when the crash happened on the other side of the building, 18 floors above. The Labrador retriever calmly guided his blind owner down 1,463 steps and out the building. "The two of us had a very interdependent relationship," Hingson recalls. "She kept me as calm as I kept her. I just kept encouraging her." Just as they got out of the building, the south tower collapsed. Hingson said Roselle remained calm and totally focused while everyone ran in panic and debris fell around them.

Roselle passed away in 2011, nearly 10 years after the attacks. “She was an amazing dog who taught me a lot about patience and unconditional love,” says Hingson. “And when I remember how she behaved on that morning in 2001, I think the most powerful thing she taught me was that working together is the most powerful thing we can do.”

Jake

Jake, a 10 month old puppy, was adopted by Mary Flood after living on the streets with a broken leg and a dislocated hip. With much love, the disabled pup went on to become a world class search and rescue dog, a teacher to train future dogs, and a comforter to people in need. Following the 9/11 attacks, Jake spent 17 days searching for survivors and victims at the World Trade Center. He assisted after many disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. Jake later developed cancer and was put to sleep in 2007 at the age of 12. "He was a great morale booster wherever he went," Flood said.

Bretagne

Bretagne's first deployment as a US government-certified rescue dog was at the World Trade Center, and she and her owner Denise Corliss spent two weeks working 12 hour shifts at Ground Zero. "It was her first mission, but she worked it like a pro," said Corliss. Bretagne retired from search work at age 9. She continued to work in her retirement helping children with special needs. On June 6, 2016, the 16 year old golden retriever was ill and put to sleep. She was the last surviving rescue dog who worked at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks.

When the dogs weren't searching the rubble, they would help human rescuers cope with their emotional trauma - as well as the therapy dogs that were brought in. According to Dr. Cynthia Otto, a veterinarian who cared for the heroic dogs at Ground Zero, "You'd see firefighters sitting there, unanimated, stone-faced, no emotion, and then they'd see a dog and break out into a smile. Those dogs brought the power of hope. They removed the gloom for just an instant."

Sirius

Sirius, born in 1997, was not a search and rescue dog, a cadaver dog or a therapy dog. He was a member of the NY/NJ Port Authority Police Department and worked as an Explosives Detection Dog, and he was the only dog to die in the 9/11 attacks.

Sirius and his partner, Officer David Lim, were working in the basement of the World Trade Center's south tower checking vehicles for explosives when the attack happened. Officer Lim put Sirius in his kennel in the basement and left to help those in the north tower. Officer Lim survived but had to go to the hospital for injuries. He was not able to make it back to the basement for Sirius before the south tower fell. Sirius died and his body was recovered on January 22, 2002. He received full police honors upon recovery.

"My kids played with him," Lim said. "We miss him a lot."

A memorial statue honoring the dogs of 9/11

The 9/11 dogs were able to search large areas faster than humans. They were able to search areas that were too unstable for humans. They searched day and night, without the equipment humans had like face masks. Many were injured, but well taken care of. Injuries that were not too serious were tended to, then they were back on the job. Dogs trained for rescue (not recovery) somehow knew there were no living survivors left, but they went on to help find human remains. Personal items were also found by the dogs to be given to the families of the decease.

This was a devastating time in US history, and dogs were there to help mankind.

Read about Cairo, the Navy Seal dog who participated in the killing of Osama bin Laden, the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

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