“The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the
one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. . . He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. . . When all other friends desert, he remains.” – George G Vest
The love humans have for their dogs is unparalleled in the animal kingdom. Stories of people risking their lives to save their four-legged friends offer the kind of heart-warming goodness one wants to see on the news and provides a much needed buffer against the usual tirade of news bulletin blues. Above all, it reminds us all of the beauty of our relationship with animals.
Whether it’s a house fire or a flood, a fight or a fall, most people will go out of their way to rescue a pet in need and ensure animal health. However, is this valour reciprocated? Whilst, inevitably, human beings can comprehend danger and calculate risk, will dogs jeopardise their well-being to save a person in peril and, if so, what does this tells us about man’s best friend?
The Natural Disaster Dog
Natural disasters are devastating experiences for everyone involved. They wreck homes, livelihoods and families but, encouragingly, they bring out the best in people and pets. Such was the case for a Labrador named Katrina who, in a twist of strange irony, rescued a drowning man from rising flood waters during Hurricane Katrina. When the man was safely above water, the heroic hound had to hold tight until she herself could be pulled to safety by rescue teams. Later that year, Katrina received a standing ovation for her bravery at the Genesis Awards.
The Typecast Transformer
When Angela Marcelino answered her door in 2008, the last thing she expected was a merciless attack. Before she was able to defend herself, Marcelino was pinned to the floor and strangled by a stranger. With the last breath available to her, Marcelino managed to shout “Maya, get him!” Obediently Maya, her adopted American Pit Bull Terrier, sprang into action. She bit the intruder and eventually scared him off. Not only that, but the traces of blood found on her snout were identified as that Anthony Easely, a 37 year old criminal who had been convicted of two sexual felonies. Maya saved her owner from becoming the victim of a terrifying crime and was rewarded accordingly, too. She was named Dog of the Year and branded an “AmbassaBULL.” Colleen Page, an Animal Behaviourist, said of Maya, “I was very excited to show the world the good side of Pit Bulls.”
The Plucky Puppy
At only 5-months-old, an English Cocker Spaniel named Honey saved her owner, Michael Bosch, from a horrific car accident. After losing control of the vehicle, an injured Bosch and his young pup found themselves stuck in their upside down SUV, which had become lodged in a deep ravine. Try how he might to release himself, Bosch was trapped and, with no options left, he knew that Honey was his only hope. Using the little energy that he possessed, Bosch was able to free Honey from the wreckage. All that remained now was for the puppy to comprehend the danger her owner was in and seek aid. However, Bosch watched as she ran away and, defeated, gave himself up to his fate. Little did he know that Honey would race for half a mile looking for help and, having finally gained the attention of a man, would led life-saving help to the scene of the accident. Thankfully, Honey’s owner was saved from the wreckage and the emergency services reported that, had it not been for Honey, Bosch would not have made it.
The Doggy Paddler
Napoleon is quite a name for a dog to live up to. Thankfully, one certain English bulldog did just that. A notoriously terrible breed for swimming, Napoleon sensed some wrong-doing during a lakeside walk with his owner and dived straight into the water. He swam far out into the center of the lake, all the while ignoring the chastising calls of his worried owner. However, when Napoleon returned with a burlap sack in his mouth, his owner started to question the dog’s motives. Shockingly, when the sack was opened, six water-logged kittens were discovered inside. The kittens had suffered a terrible trauma and, sadly, two of the little ones didn’t make it. However, four of them were rehomed and Napoleon became a hero at the Adoption Centre.
The Hero of Ground Zero
Trakr is an incredible dog to end with because, not only was his act of bravery a symbol of hope for those effected by 9/11, but so great were his achievements that he is now being cloned! As a German shepherd police dog (and part of the first response team to arrive at Ground Zero), Trakr and his partner, James Symington, dug through 30 feet of treacherously insecure debris, almost immediately after the towers had collapsed. In doing so, Trakr rescued the last human survivor of the attack and became a national treasure. May his legacy live on through his cloned canine brothers.
These tales of bravery and selflessness are truly remarkable and yet, there are so many stories of dogs saving not only their owners but complete strangers too. It just goes to show, then, how caring and loyal dogs are to human beings and if that doesn’t dogspire you, I’m not sure what will.
By Emily Buchanan, a writer who confesses that she likes dogs more than people. She works for Animed Direct, the UK’s leading online pet care retailer.
Tags: dogs and natural disasters, dogs of 9-11, dogs of Katrina, hero dogs, Rescue Dogs
