hero dogs Archives

UPDATE: Abandoned Dog Who Went On To Save 100 Koalas From Bushfires Honored

Remember Bear, the rescue dog who saved 100 koalas during the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires of 2019? Bear is a dog surrendered by his family because of his obsessive compulsive tendencies and high energy. The Border Collie/Koolie mix went on to use his drive and special detection skills to save animals at risk of perishing in the devastating fires. At the House of Lords this week, Bear earned a special medal from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). As … Read more

New Disney Plus Series Showcases America’s Working Dogs

Whether or not you have heard of Bill Farmer, you definitely know his voice. He’s responsible for Pluto’s bark, Goofy’s bumbling speech, and the voices of many other Disney characters over the past 30 years. Now, Farmer is working in front of the camera to bring recognition to some of America’s most amazing real-life dogs. It’s A Dog’s Life His new show, It’s A Dog Life, is currently available on the Disney+ streaming service and features talented working dogs from … Read more

Loyal Service Dog Refuses To Leave Mom’s Hospital Room After Saving Her Life

The concept of a service dog may be confusing to those who don’t have one. Sometimes you really need to see these working pups in action to fully understand how necessary and important they are. Take Ruby for example. Ruby is a gray and white Pit Bull/Staffy from Australia who’s also an outstanding service dog. She started training as a therapy dog in 2017, two years after her mom Shauna Darcy adopted her. https://www.instagram.com/p/9FFbnsLzn6/ Ruby’s initial duties were to help Darcy … Read more

Humanity’s Best Friends: 10 Important Dogs Throughout History You Should Know About

In school we’re often taught about famous people and their remarkable deeds throughout history. Yet every day dogs contribute to the betterment of humanity and don’t get a lick of the attention. Dogs have been responsible for major scientific breakthroughs, epic rescues, and heroic survivals. Here are just some accomplished canines your history textbooks probably didn’t cover. 1. Nemo – The War Hero Nemo the war dog, nemo was the first dog to return home from the Vietnam war, he … Read more

Whitley, Diabetic-Alert Dog Of A 19-Year-Old, Is A Life Saver

Dogs are capable of so much more than just bringing love and joy to us. Every day, specially trained service dogs literally save lives. In many cases, dogs can use their outstanding sense of smell to detect medical issues. That’s the kind of amazing animal that changed a California teenager’s whole world. When he was just 7-years-old, Clay Ronk needed to be air-lifted to a hospital where he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. That was a terrifying day for … Read more

Hero Dog Dies Saving His Family From A Fire

Parents of former shelter dogs often feel that even though we rescued them, they saved us as well. This turned out to be the very literal truth for a family in Florida. Their Jack Russell Terrier named Zippy warned them about a house fire, but tragically the little guy lost his life in the process. Leroy Butler’s family adopted Zippy the Jack Russell Terrier about four years ago from The Humane Society of Manatee County in Florida. He was meant to … Read more

Pit Bull Alerts Family To House Fire & Begins Dragging The Baby To Safety

Sasha the Pit Bull and baby Masailah have a very special bond. Born just days apart, the pair have spent the past eight months growing up together. So when Sasha sensed impending danger in the form of a rapidly spreading house fire, it’s no wonder her top priority was saving her best friend. Sasha was in the backyard of the Chai family’s Stockton, California home when the frightening scene began to unfold. The neighboring house was engulfed in flame and … Read more

Partially Blind Senior Dog Guards 3-Year-Old Lost In Australia Bush

A 3-year-old girl named Aurora wandered off into the bushland surrounding her family’s rural Warwick, Australia property on Friday. Despite the efforts of more than 100 searchers, no trace of the girl was found until the following morning. But little Aurora did not have to spend the night alone. Max, her 14-year-old Australian Cattle Dog (known as a Blue Heeler in Australia) remained by her side. SUCH A GOOD BOY, MAX! He stayed with his 3-year-old human who was lost … Read more

Hero Dog Shot While Protecting His Young Human Returns Home

On February 21, a brave German Shepherd risked his life to protect his 16-year-old master, Javier, from armed burglars. As the boy hid in an upstairs closet, Rex engaged the intruders, distracting them from his location. The 2-year-old dog sustained a beating and multiple gunshot wounds during the confrontation. As the story spread, animal lovers across the world held their breath awaiting news of the hero dog’s prognosis. On Friday, just three days after the attack, Rex was released … Read more

Military Dog Receives Medal For Bravery, Decides To Chew It

The PDSA Dickin Medal for bravery was instituted in 1943 as a way to honor the work of British animals during World War II. Special Forces dog Mali, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, recently became the 32nd canine recipient of the award, considered the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an animal for military service. Mali and his handler Corporal Daniel Hatley visited BBC Radio 4 to discuss the honor where the hero pup mistook his prestigious award for … Read more

Formerly Abused Pit Bull, Famous For Her Headbands, Wins Hero Dog Award

The beautiful white Pibble in the colorful array of bows, headbands and bonnets is almost unrecognizable from the pitiful, abused creature she was just 10 months ago. Abigail, decked out in a patriotic gown and a sparkly red version of her signature headband, became American Humane’s Emerging Hero Dog of the year on September 16. It is a well deserved honor for a dog whose face has become a symbol of hope and survival for Pit Bulls and victims of … Read more

Town Gathers To Bid Farewell To Military Dog With Terminal Cancer

Earlier this week we brought you the heroic and heartbreaking tale of Marine Corps veteran, Corporal Jeff DeYoung, and his beloved service dog and partner in war, K9 Cena. The former combat engineer vowed to give his faithful friend a hero’s farewell after Cena was diagnosed with bone cancer earlier this month. On Wednesday, DeYoung fulfilled his promise as hundreds of mourners turned out to honor the bomb-sniffing dog at a museum ship in Muskegon, Michigan. Together DeYoung and Cena … Read more

Stray Dog Leads Rescuers To The Mama & Their Puppies

A German Shepherd mix in Illinois is being labeled a hero after leading rescuers to 7 puppies and their mother. The male dog is presumed to be the father of the puppies. It all started the evening of Tuesday, July 18. Robert Walters was driving home from work taking the country roads between Iroquois County and Vermilion County. South of Sheldon, he saw the male German Shepherd mix standing in the middle of the road. When the dog refused to get … Read more

Veteran Creates A Bucket List For His K9 Partner & Service Dog

Marine Corps veteran, Corporal Jeff DeYoung, broke down when he heard the news: his service dog and former partner in Afghanistan has terminal bone cancer. Together, DeYoung and the bomb detection dog named Cena “walked out in front of infantry units and patrolled the roadways and surrounding areas for IEDs.” Now, after veterinarians gave Cena just weeks to live, DeYoung has vowed to spend those final days honoring his faithful friend. LCpl Jeff DeYoung was reunited with Cena, the bomb-sniffing labrador who … Read more

Can Science Explain Why Dogs Are Willing To Risk Their Lives For Us?

They drag us from burning buildings, alert us to medical emergencies, battle intruders, and even take bullets for us, but what is it that motivates dogs to risk their own lives for humans? Love? Gratitude? Preservation of the life they hold dear? All of these things may play a role, but recent research suggests it comes down to empathy. The canine species seem to have emotions so closely linked to our own that they are willing to make the ultimate … Read more

Firefighters Mourn Search & Rescue Dog After Decade Of Service

Nikko, Riverside Fire Department‘s long-time search and rescue dog, passed away this week. His fellow firefighters offered a final salute as his flag-draped body was carried to awaiting transport on Tuesday. The Golden Retriever began his work with the department in 2006 when he was just a puppy. Nikko participated in several rescue operations, served as a therapy dog, and was a cherished friend to his brothers and sisters in uniform. Nikko was assigned to the California Urban Search & … Read more

Formerly Abused Shelter Dog Leads Her Adopter To Naked, Freezing Toddler

More questions than answers currently surround the story of a 3-year-old girl located in the nick of time by a formerly abused and currently beloved family dog named Peanut. Little Peanut is rightfully being hailed a hero for leading her owner to the naked child alone in a Rapid River, Michigan ditch on a morning when temperatures dipped near freezing. According to Upper Michigan’s Source, the girl is safe and not suffering from any serious injuries or hypothermia. Her … Read more

2 Hero Dogs Step In To Save A Tiny Puppy Someone Threw In The Trash

The morning of Tuesday January 31 began just like any other for a police officer in Novo Horizonte, Brazil. He was leaving to drive his daughter to school when he noticed a neighborhood dog rummaging through the trash. At first it appeared that the dog had found a dead kitten, but on closer inspection the officer saw that it was a tiny newborn puppy – and that it was still alive. He tried taking the puppy from the dog, but … Read more

Dog Helps His Young Master Rescue A Mama Goat & Her Newborn Stranded In The Snow

Hamdü Sena Bilgin is only 11-years-old, but she already has more responsibility than many people twice her age. She and her dog, Tomi are goatherders on her parents’ farm outside Rize, Turkey. The Bilgin family raises the goats for their milk. Keeping them safe is Hamdü Sena and Tomi’s job, so when one of the herd suddenly went into labor on a snow covered hillside, they sprang to action. Hamdü Sena determined that they were too far from home for … Read more

Extraordinary Dog Alerts His Owner To An Elderly Neighbor In Peril

A Staffordshire Terrier in Perth, Australia is being hailed as a hero for his role in rescuing a 96-year-old neighbor who had fallen and broken his hip. Zeus could sense the injured man just beyond the shared fence and whined at the spot for 40 minutes until his owner took notice and investigated. The elderly man had been lying helpless in his yard for more than 2 days. Mick Condo, Zeus’ dad, didn’t think too much of his 3-year-old dog’s … Read more

A Shelter Dog Who Beat Cancer & Helped Rescue A Cat Is Still Waiting To Be Adopted

Leopard, a 6-year-old Shar Pei mix, not only survived her battle with cancer, she also helped save the life of a stranded cat in peril. Despite her sweet disposition and courageous nature, Leopard is still waiting at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter in Ohio for her own hero to come along and rescue her. Leopard isn’t letting all the fame of being a hero dog go to her head after her post from a few days ago. Actually, she… … Read more

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