Dogs who made a difference

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Dogs who made a difference

Remembering Dogs in war this Sunday

Dogs who made a difference

Remembering Dogs in war this Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is sombre and serious for good reason.
Selfless loss of life whilst helping others is humbling. Yet there is something about the stories of dogs in war which is heart-warming too. Even though they did not choose to go to war, weren’t paid and obviously can’t speak, they do not seem victims. They were comforting companions, skilled searchers, daredevil detectives and more. It’s their complete selflessness which makes them the heroes we know they are.

To mark Remembrance Sunday, we’ve researched some stories about dogs who have received the PDSA Dickin Medal – the equivalent of The Victoria Cross. It is awarded to animals who displayed "conspicuous
gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units".

Rip - The stray who rescued bomb victims buried alive

Rip was a crossbreed stray who started hanging around the
Wardens in Poplar after an air raid in 1940. He proved to be superb at sniffing out victims buried under rubble and saved over 100 people. His skill and success helped to inspire the formation of an official dog search and rescue team at the end of WWII.

Buster – The Spaniel who sniffed out hidden weapons

Buster’s ability to detect weapons through his sense of smell was legendary. After three failed search attempts by men, it was Buster who found a huge cache of bombs, AK47s and grenades buried in a wall, under tin, behind a wardrobe… At the time, he was the only detection dog working in Iraq, yet his find was so significant he was credited with saving ‘thousands of lives’.

Judy - the Pointer who was a Prisoner of War

Judy was a ship’s mascot and in active service from 1936 to
1945. Despite being torpedoed, imprisoned, and shot at, she had three litters of puppies! Her stalwart support of the men – who protected and smuggled her with them everywhere – was phenomenal. Not only did she hear the enemy before
anyone else, but she’d also warn off snakes and scorpions and discovered a fresh water source on a remote island. She always knew what to do – whether it was to keep still whilst hidden in a sack for
hours in the heat, or to push pieces of floating wood towards soldiers adrift in the sea.

Read more about recipients of the Dickin Medal here

Rip is one of 13 Dickin Medal recipients who is buried at Ilford Animal Cemetery