Dogs are not only man’s best friend but also our heroes without capes. They are our loyal companions, are non-judgemental, reliable, and look out for us during desperate times.
Here are 10 of the most courageous dogs that ever lived.
1. The Dog That Saved Owner’s Life In Freezing Conditions
A man made a journey outside of his home in only long johns, a shirt, and slippers. It was -4C outside and he thought he would get back inside in no time. However, he slipped and broke his neck. His five-year-old Golden Retriever, Kelsey, came to his rescue. The dog kept the man warm by lying on top of him and licked his hands and face to keep him awake. Kelsey kept the man alive in freezing conditions for 24 hours until help arrived.
2. A Pit Bull Was Saved From Being Euthanized And Returned The Favor A Week Later
A pit bull named TatorTot was scheduled to be euthanized when he was rescued by a woman. Less than a week later, TatorTot returned the favor by saving the woman’s 4-year-old son. On that fateful night, TatorTot began barking and running back and forth between the woman and her son’s bedroom. The woman thought the dog was just exercising but the pit bull wouldn’t quiet down. Finally, the woman went to check on her son and noticed that he was barely breathing. TatorTot was on the child’s bed, barking and licking his face. The woman immediately called 911 and her son was taken to the emergency room. Thanks to the pit bull, the little man survived!
3. This Pit Bull Saved Her Owner’s Life From An Oncoming Train By Taking The Hit Herself
In May 2012 in Shirley, Massachusetts, Christine Spain took her pit bull, Lilly, out for a walk. While walking by the railroad tracks, Christine tripped and fell unconscious. At that moment, a freight train conductor saw the silhouette of a person and a dog on the tracks. He tried to stop the train but knew there wasn’t going to be enough time. He then noticed that the silhouette was moving. It was Lilly trying to pull her immobilized owner off the tracks. When the train passed over them, the conductor felt a thump. When the train finally came to a stop and the conducted exited, he found Christine unharmed. Lilly had covered her owner’s body and took the hit for her. Even though Lilly was suffering from extreme injuries, she still continued to watch over Christine until the emergency services arrived. Unfortunately, Lilly’s front right leg had to be amputated in surgery, but she survived the ordeal.
4. On A Cold Winter Night, This Dog Saved A Baby By Carrying Her Back To The Pen And Keeping Her Warm
On a cold winter night in 2008, China the dog found an abandoned baby girl in a field and carried her back to the pen where she held her own newborn pups. China kept the baby warm through the night until her human owner heard the cries of an infant. She then took the baby to the local hospital for medical care. The baby survived and was named ‘Esperanza,’ meaning hope. Then on December 12, China was honored with the Shining World Hero Award by Supreme Master Ching Hai for her courageous act.
5. Buster The Dog Saved His Owner’s Life By Alerting His Wife
A couple were looking for a puppy and found Buster. Soon after the dog came into their lives, the husband became very ill and after multiple surgeries and hospital stays, he finally came home. Since he had the operation, he couldn’t use the stairs and slept in their living room. One night, during a terrible ice storm, the wife and Buster were sleeping upstairs. All of a sudden, Buster woke up barking, which was unlike him. The dog wasn’t barking at the window but at the bedroom doorway. So the wife decided to go downstairs and check on her husband. She found him unconscious on the floor. He had woke up, blacked out, and hit his face on a piece of furniture. She quickly called the emergency and they took him to the hospital. The doctors said if she hadn’t found him when she did, he most likely wouldn’t have survived. If it wasn’t for Buster’s consistent barks, she would have never gone downstairs to check on her husband. It seems that Buster heard him fall and she didn’t.
6. Sergeant Stubby Saved His Regiment From Surprise Gas Attack And Became A World War I Hero
Sergeant Stubby served in the army for 18 months and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He did many heroic acts such as saving his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, finding and comforting the wounded, and once caught a German soldier by his pants and held him down until American soldiers found him.
7. Roselle, A Labrador Retriever Guide Dog, Led Her Owner Away From Collapsing Buildings
When the first twin tower got hit and began to collapse, Roselle led her owner, Michael Hingson, through the noise, smoke, and rubble of the office. They descended the stairway and once on ground level in the middle of human panic, Roselle remained calm and continued leading Hingson away from the chaos. When they were far enough, the second tower began to collapse. They ran for the subway. Roselle then guided Hingson to the home of a friend, where they stayed until subway trains were running again. They finally made it back home to New Jersey at 7 that night.
8. Casper The K-9 Officer Dog Was Shot Protecting His Partner
On May 2017, an officer was involved in a shooting in Jupiter. The suspect was involved in a robbery and as he was approached, he opened fire on the deputies. Casper the K9 officer dog, who is a bomb detector and patrol dog, was on scene and was struck by a bullet during the gunfire. The bullet he got was meant for his handler. They rushed him into surgery and he survived.
9. Peanut, Who Survived Animal Cruelty, Saved A Little Girl’s Life
At 11 in the morning, Peanut the dog started barking nonstop. She was running up and down the stairs, constantly barking and yelping. She then went to the garage and found her owner working on some projects. She made it clear that she wanted to go outside. So her owner let her out. Peanut went barrelling into the field behind their house at full speed. Curiosity took over of his dog’s strange behavior, so he followed her. To his surprise, he found a naked, shivering 3-year-old girl curled up in a ball. He picked her up, wrapped her in his sweatshirt and took her inside. He then called 911 and reported the incident.
10. Atlas, The Brave Service Dog
Atlas’ owner struggled with PTSD after coming home from Iraq. He paid regular visits to the doctor and ended up on 33 pills that left him feeling hazy and helpless. He then adopted Atlas for a better change. The dog has been trained to sense changes in his owner’s horrifying flashbacks and responds by redirecting his owner’s attention. With the help of Atlas’ brilliant support, hr owner was able to gain control of his life and become an active part of his family. Atlas also became the inspiration behind the creation of The Battle Buddy Foundation, for many other veterans out there struggling to cope.