25 Bravest Hero Dogs

Dogs are called man’s best friend for a reason. Throughout history, some have expressed immense bravery in the face of danger to protect their two-legged companions.

Search-and-rescue dogs are among the first to respond to catastrophes from terrorist attacks to natural disasters. Military dogs have taken bullets and heated shrapnel to defend their handlers. Even ordinary dogs answer the call when their owners are in trouble. Consider the beagle who brushed away a torn ligament and looked for help after her owner was hit by a car. Or the Chihuahua who almost lost an eye while defending a child from a rattle snake. One beagle even called 9-1-1 for help. Seriously. And there are even more amazing stories about hero dogs out there.

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Read on to learn more about these courageous canines.

1. Gander

Throughout history, canines have been deployed to warzones to aid their two-legged brothers in arms. They sniff out explosives, warn troops of approaching danger, and even fight off enemy combatants. And sometimes, they make the ultimate sacrifices.

Gander is among them. This Newfoundland served with the 1st Battalion of Canada’s Royal Rifles. In 1941, he fought gallantly alongside Allied troops against Japanese forces in the Battle for Hong Kong. At one point, Gander watched a grenade roll toward his friends. So, he put it in his mouth and carried the grenade back to the enemy before it detonated in his mouth.

Gander saved dozens of human lives at the expense of his own. He was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal in 2000. This decoration is the animal equivalent to Britain’s Victorian Cross, the highest military honor awarded for valor.

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2. Diesel

Following the Paris terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in November 2015, security forces throughout France went on high alert. And so did their canines. The most renowned dog to report for duty after the viscous attack was Diesel, a 7-year-old Belgian Sheppard.

Days after the shootings and bombings, police and Diesel stormed an apartment in Paris where they believed the mastermind of the attacks was hiding. What followed was pure chaos. Police came under fire and they shot at least 5,000 rounds at their assailants. Multiple explosions went off including one set off by a suicide bomber.

When the smoke cleared, Diesel lay dead. News of his death caused an outpouring of grief from around the world. Diesel was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal.

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3. Target, Rufus and Sasha

Georgia National Guardsman Chris Duke owes his life to a trio of brave doggies.

While stationed in Afghanistan, Duke befriended three local dogs: Target, Rufus and Sasha. One February night in 2010, the dogs noticed a suicide bomber approaching Duke’s barracks. The canines then attacked the terrorist, who detonated his vest before he could breach the facility.

The team potentially saved the lives of 50 soldiers. Unfortunately, Sasha had to be put down due to her wounds. But Target and Rufus survived. A month later, Duke returned home leaving his hero canines behind. When non-profit organizations heard the story, they raised $21,000 to have the pooches transported to the U.S.

Rufus now lives happily with Duke. Target resided with another soldier in Arizona until he left home and was accidentally euthanized in a dog pound.

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4. Kabang

Cousins Dina Bunggal, 11, and Princess Diansing, 3, were walking through a city in the Philippines one day, when they came into the path of a speeding motorcycle. That’s when a dog named Kabang leaped in front of the girls causing the bike to stop.

Unfortunately, the motorcycle’s front wheel crushed the doggie’s snout. It was ripped off as Kabang was pulled off the wheel. The girls and even the cyclist were unharmed. But, the pooch needed reconstructive surgery costing about $20,000.

Rudy Bunggal, Kabang’s owner and Dina’s father, couldn’t afford it. He made about $3.50 a day. Luckily, dog lovers and animal-welfare organizations poured in donations after hearing the story. A few months after the February 2011 incident, they raised enough money to fly Kabang to the U.S. for treatment.

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5. Roselle and Salty

As terror struck the World Trade Center on Sep.11, 2001, two guide dogs were put through the ultimate tests. Roselle, a yellow labrador, was with her owner Michael Hingson on the 78th floor of Tower 1. Strategically, Roselle led Hingson through a crumbling office and to a stairway, which the two took to safety before the tower collapsed.

Meanwhile, Salty was in Tower 1 with owner Omar Rivera. With the help of Rivera’s supervisor Donna Enright, Salty led him to safety.

Both dogs received a joint Dickin Medal, a decoration usually reserved for animals in combat. Roselle was posthumously named the 2011 American Hero Dog by the American Humane Association. She was put down that year before succumbing to a stomach ulcer.

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6. Trakr

Trakr and his handler James Symington were among the first search-and-rescue units who reported to Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Suffering burns and smoke inhalation, Trakr dug through debris to save Genelle Guzman, the last reported survivor of the attacks. Trakr, a long-time service dog, was awarded the Extraordinary Service to Humanity Award by Dr. Jane Goodall.

Like many dogs involved in the search for 9/11 survivors, Trakr faced medical issues after the ordeal. He suffered a nerve disorder that affected the use of his back legs. He died in 2009.

But Trakr left behind a legacy. His heroism was so renowned that he was selected for cloning. In 2009, Symington said goodbye to his best friend and welcomed five puppies cloned from Trakr’s DNA. He’s training them to become rescue dogs.

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7. Khan

Here’s another pooch who earned his stripes in the warzones of WWII. Meet Rifleman Khan. This German Sheppard was assigned to Lance Cpl. James Muldoon of the 6th Cameroonians, a battalion of the Scottish Rifles.

One night during the Battle of Walcheren Causeway in 1944, Khan and Muldoon were on a landing craft when it came under artillery fire. A shell destroyed the craft launching both of them into the water.

Khan paddled to shore; however, Muldoon couldn’t swim and he was about to drown. When Khan heard his master’s cry for help, he rushed back into the waters. Beneath a hail of enemy fire, Khan swam to Muldoon and pulled him to safety. Khan was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945.

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8. Rocky

In 2002, a police dog chased down a burglar and brought him to justice even after suffering a gunshot to the paw. Rocky, a Dutch sheppard, may have even saved the burglar’s life. The dog pinned him down before police could return fire.

Rocky recovered from his wounds and kept serving with Denver’s Lakewood Police Department until he retired in 2007. Unfortunately, his handler Darren Maurer had to have him put down in 2009. The pooch was succumbing to prostate cancer. Since Rocky joined the K-9 unit, the two spent every shift together for nearly a decade.

“I’ll always look back at the experiences we had together,” an emotional Maurer told the Denver post.

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9. Chips

The most decorated canine of World War II served with the Seventh Army under the renowned General Patton. Chips guarded tanks and fought bravely throughout North Africa, France, Germany, and Italy.

One of the war-hardened pup’s most daring stunts took place during the Invasion of Sicily in 1943, when Chips and his handler came under heavy machine gun fire. Despite the barrage of bullets, Chips broke from his handler and raced toward the enemy. He bit, clawed, and pinned them down before they eventually surrendered to American troops.

Chips was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the attack. Both were unfortunately rescinded because dogs were not allowed to receive those honors.

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10. Nemo

Hundreds of brave dogs served with American troops deployed in Vietnam. One of the most famous was Nemo, a German sheppard tied to Airman 2nd Class Robert Thorneburg. While on patrol in 1966, both came under enemy fire.

Viet Cong rebels shot Nemo in the eye. Thorneburg was shot in the shoulder. Despite his injuries, Nemo attacked the rebels giving Thorneburg enough time to call for reinforcements. When Thorneburg fell unconscious, Nemo lay on his handler to protect him. A veterinarian had to remove Nemo so Thorneburg could be treated.

Both recovered from their injuries. Nemo was flown back to the U.S., where he retired as a war hero.

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11. Pearl

Several search-and-rescue dogs answered the call when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010. Among them was a black Labrador named Pearl. With the help of other canines and her handler Ron Horetski, the lab managed to find 12 survivors amid the rubble.

Sometimes, she dug through 30 feet of debris. It’s a skill that has guided her throughout her career as a member of Los Angeles County Task Force 2.

Pearl was awarded the 2010 ASPCA Dog of the Year.

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12. Judy

One of the most renowned hero dogs of WWII was also the only canine POW of the conflict. Meet Judy. Books have been written about this English Pointer’s bravery. So, we’ll highlight a few of her adventures.

While stranded on an Island after a shipwreck, Judy dug a fresh water spring before her men died from dehydration and starvation. They were later captured and taken to a notorious Japanese POW camp. There, she kept her companions’ morale up. She also attacked guards whenever they beat prisoners. Unfortunately, she suffered greatly along with her brothers.

Nonetheless, she continued saving lives after the prisoners were transported on a cargo ship destroyed by Allied torpedoes. Judy and the remaining prisoners were taken back to the camp, which was liberated in 1945. Judy’s bravery earned the Dickin Medal.

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13. Shana

Norman and Eve Fertig were feeding animals one night at the wildlife sanctuary on their property in Alden, N.Y.

Then, the lights went out. Outside, a massive snow storm was raging. When the 80-year-old couple stepped out, a massive tree collapsed blocking them from their home. They were trapped. And just when they thought they were going to freeze to death, their dog Shana came to the rescue.

The half wolf, half German Sheppard started digging underneath the tree creating a tunnel to their home. Shana then came back, grabbed the sleeve of Eve’s jacket and threw the woman on her back. Eve calls it “as wide as our kitchen shelf.” Norman grabbed Eve’s legs and the three tunneled back home. Shana lay on top of her owners providing them with warmth until firefighters arrived.

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14. Axel

Sometimes, heroes need some rescuing. That was the case with Jason Haag, a retired captain in the Marine Corps. Haag was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving three combat tours throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. An IED explosion left the Purple Heart recipient with a traumatic brain injury.

Upon returning home, Hagg faced depression and mental stress. He was taking more than 30 medications while struggling with alcohol abuse. In 2012, his wife persuaded him to seek help from K9s for Warriors, which connects veterans with therapy dogs. That’s when Axel answered the call. The German Sheppard is always by his owner’s side and ready to pull him out of panic-inducing environments. Axel’s unwavering devotion to Haag earned him the 2015 Service Dog of the Year award by the American Humane Association.

Axel is one of several dogs who help soldiers suffering from PTSD, at a time when the nation is losing more of its soldiers to suicide than combat.

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15. Lucy

John Miles was walking his dog Lucy through the streets of Boston when a car ambushed them. The Vehicle sped off leaving unconscious Miles on the ground with a broken arm and two broken legs. Lucy, an 8-year-old Beagle, suffered a torn ligament in her knee.

Despite her injuries, Lucy got up and limped to a nearby dentist’s office. She barked at staff until someone followed her to Miles. The dog refused to leave her owner’s side again even as he was lifted onto an ambulance. Lucy later underwent surgery.

Both survived.

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16. Zoey

Zoey, a 10-month-old Chihuahua, was with her owner Monty Long in their backyard one day. Long’s grandson, 1-year-old Booker West, was playing by the birdbath. It was an ordinary, sunny day in Denver.

Suddenly, Zoey leaped in between the baby and a rock. A rattle snake was slithering on the stone and getting ready to strike the child. Zoey took the blow instead — right above the eye.

The wounded pooch ran off, but she gave Monty enough time to grab a pipe and charge at the snake. Zoey was later treated for her wounds and made a full recovery.

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17. Bear

Patricia Drauch was walking to her garage to pick up a shovel as her son Stanley followed. She turned away for a second and when she turned back, the 14-month-old was gone. Drauch found him in the backyard swimming pool and panicked.

Luckily, the family dog Bear was in there too. Bear kept the boy’s head above water and on his back as the dog paddled to stay afloat. Drauch took her baby out of the water and got him medical attention. Today, Stanley still happily plays with Bear.

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18. Kankuntu

Peter Lee says his dog Kankuntu weighs 50 pounds, but she thinks she’s a lion. And she proved it by going head-to-head with armed pirates.

Lee and his wife Betty were on a yacht in the Caribbean when they were ambushed by armed pirates. The thieves boarded the yacht and bound Lee by his hands and feet before putting a pistol to Betty’s face. That’s when Kankuntu lunged at the thieves.

He bit and clawed the men until one shot the pup and stabbed him between the shoulder blades. Kankuntu retreated underneath a table. The pirates escaped with valuables but left the couple alive. Still, the little pooch proved he packs a lion’s heart. He recovered from his injuries in case you’re wondering.

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19. True

Katie Crosley and her son Jace slept soundly when an electrical fire broke out in their cabin. They may have suffered severe injuries or even death if they’re dog named True had not come to the rescue. True nudged his owners awake and led them to safety.

True was blind, deaf and had only three legs.

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20. Yogi

Paul Horton was riding his mountain bike along some trails in Austin, while his dog Yogi followed. He had done this dozens of times. This time, however, he hit a bump and flipped over his handlebars. Horton landed on his head causing his vertebra to pinch his spinal cord.

Horton was paralyzed from the chest down. The 58-year-old whispered to Yogi to go get help. The pooch raced back into town and found his neighbors. He barked loudly at them. This was unusual behavior for Yogi. When they finally got the hint, they followed Yogi back to Horton.

Dr. Juan Latorre said the pup was “instrumental” in getting Horton to the hospital before he choked to death. Yogi was designated the 2011 Valor Dog of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States.

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21. Belle

Belle’s diabetic handler Kevin Weaver suffered a seizure and collapsed one day in 2006. As his blood sugar dropped dangerously low, his Beagle came to the rescue. She grabbed Weaver’s cell phone and bit down on the number “9” to speed dial 911.

Medics arrived in time to save Weaver’s life. Belle was awarded the VITA Wireless Samaritan Award, given to someone who uses a cell phone to save a life, prevent a crime, or aid in an emergency.

Belle was trained to call for help in case of emergency. She is also trained to detect abnormalities in Weaver’s blood sugar level by licking his nose.  If something is wrong, she paws at him.

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22. Joe

Deborah Epstein and her little Yorkie Joe were relaxing on their front porch in one day, when the phone rang. Epstein stepped back inside to answer it leaving the front door open. She heard her dog barking loudly – an unusual behavior. When she returned, she found something that seemed straight out of a cartoon. But it really happened.

Her 6-pound pup was barking and lunging at a 100-pound black bear. The bear eventually retreated. Joe even chased it back out the door.

“I saved him from the pound, and he saved me from a bear,” Deborah told Reader’s Digest. “We’re even.”

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23. Hudson and the Railroad Dogs

Hudson’s life almost ended tragically. Along with two of his siblings, Hudson was found nailed to railroad tracks in Albany in 2012. Hudson was only three-weeks old. All three pit bulls were malnourished and dehydrated when they were taken to a local animal shelter.

Hudson’s back paw had to be amputated due to infection. Carina, one of the pups, died from her injuries. But Hudson and his companion Pearl recovered. Hudson was even fit with a prostatic limb and paw. Richard Nash adopted Hudson and raised him as a therapy dog.

Hudson now spreads joy in schools, hospitals, and adult day-care facilities throughout New York’s Capital Region. He won the 2015 Therapy Dog of the Year award by the American Humane Association.

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24. Toby

Debbie Parkhurst almost choked to death in her Maryland home after eating an apple. No other person was home. But, her dog Toby was. Toby leapt on to her owner’s chest and pressed on it as if to perform a Heimlich maneuver.

Toby eventually forced the large piece of fruit out of her throat and saved her owner’s life. Toby was awarded the 2007 Dog of the Year Award by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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25. Killian

Ben and Hope Jordan entrusted Alexis Khan, 22, with babysitting their 7-year-old son Finn in 2013. They had run a background check on Khan and all seemed well. Then, they noticed their dog acting strangely toward Khan.

Killian became very protective of Finn. He stood between the child and the babysitter while growling. So, the couple decided to turn on the recorder of an iPhone and hide it between the sofa cushions before Khan arrived to babysit. The microphone recorded the sounds of spanking and hitting, as well as the voice of Khan yelling expletives at Finn.

Khan eventually plead guilty to battery. She was placed on a registry of child abusers preventing her from working with children again.

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