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Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them are furry, four-legged, and have paws! From animated series like Courage the Cowardly Dog to real-life anecdotes, dogs are known to protect, defend, and comfort their owners in times of distress. Their unwavering loyalty is what gives way to acts of extreme bravery, regardless of the harm those acts may bring to them.
Here, we have listed the top 10 tales of heroic dogs that are truly inspiring and heartwarming, making us fall even more in love with our canine friends!
1. Roselle – the Guide Dog
Michael Hingson’s guide dog for the blind, Roselle, became an angel in disguise on the September 11, 2001, fateful tragedy. When Tower One of the World Trade Center was hit by a hijacked plane 18 stories above Michael’s office on the 78th floor, Roselle carefully and effectively guided him down the emergency stairs.
Roselle led him through a storm of smoke and panicking people, taking him to safety at a friend’s apartment. The guide dog’s courage and intelligence saved Michael’s life and became a moment of hope and positivity after the tragic incident.
2. The Rottweiler, Eve
Kathie Vaughn was traveling in her van when it caught fire. She was a paraplegia patient trapped inside, unable to access her wheelchair. Fortunately, her dog Eve helped her out of the van by pulling her leg. Eve got her paws burned but was able to lead Kathie to safety through an act of selfless bravery!
3. The German Shepherd, Trakr
Trakr, and his handler, James Symington, valiantly discovered the last survivor of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. They kept digging through the debris and found Guzman-McMillan in the rubble. The Time Magazine labeled Trakr as one of history’s most heroic animals. Later, Trakr was cloned to create five puppies to have more canines with the same intelligence, courage, and characteristics as Trakr.
4. Danny, the Miniature Schnauzer
Small in size but great in intelligence and caring, Danny, a Miniature Schnauzer saved its owner’s life as a swift service dog. Bethe Bennet had fallen and lost consciousness due to breaking her thighbone. Danny put its training to use and licked her back to consciousness. The miniature Schnauzer also overturned the phone and pushed it toward her so she could call someone for help.
Bennet then instructed the dog to bring papers in an attempt to seek help. One of the papers Danny brought had her neighbor’s phone number on it, which she used to ask her neighbor to unlock the front door for access to the medical staff. With Danny’s skillful handling of the situation, Bennet’s life was saved!
5. The Yorkie – Joe
Your canine’s courage does not depend on its size, as demonstrated by a Yorkshire Terrier, Joe, that defended her owner’s house when a bear came strolling inside. Joe’s owner, Deborah Epstein, who lives in New Jersey, left her front door open. This became an inviting opportunity for a nearby bear, who entered the place in search of some food.
Joe alerted Deborah with continuous barking while trying to attack the bear to make it leave. Its constant heroic efforts were fruitful, forcing the bear to retreat. The Yorkie single-handedly protected its owner and its bowl of food, and if this isn’t courage, we don’t know what is!
6. Toby – the Golden Retriever
This dauntless Golden Retriever saved its owner’s life with impeccable observation and intellect. The owner, Debbie Parkhurst was enjoying an apple when she accidentally got a piece stuck in her throat. She started beating on her chest to knock it out, but without much success. Fortunately, Toby was around and noticed Parkhurst’s distress.
The dog swiftly knocked her over and jumped up and down on her chest, successfully dislodging the piece from her throat. Toby then proceeded to lick Parkhurst’s face to keep her conscious. Toby’s miraculous skills in performing the Heimlich Maneuver earned it a well-deserved title of Dog of the Year!
7. Autism Assistance Dog, Marley
This dog is not just immensely adorable but is also a life-altering, positive presence for Hayley. She suffers from severe panic attacks, and the autism assistance dog, Marley, is always there to comfort her. Whenever she is going through an extreme attack, including hitting herself, trouble breathing, and sobbing excessively, Marley jumps in to calm her. The dog uses its paws to block her hits and stays by Hayley’s side until she has regained composure.
Hayley shares videos online, showing how Marley is trained to detect the onset of a severe panic attack, and intervenes during her extreme episodes, making Hayley calm again. This autism assistance dog is proof that dogs can help patients with mental health problems in their daily life!
8. Bud, the Rescue Dog
This loving, loyal, and super-intelligent dog became a hero overnight, saving a whole community from a fire with his heroic alertness. Adopted by Mark Loar and Glenn Searle, Bud is a rescue dog who detected a fire from a window of their house. Noticing his fixation, Searle went to check on him and found him looking at a fire below. He was the first person to call 911.
The fire grew uncontrollably, so Glenn had to yell “Fire” to alert the neighbors while he was still on call with 911. A few of the neighbors came out and started screaming “Fire” to warn the rest of the neighborhood. Fortunately, there were no casualties; however, 3 houses were lost to fire, and 2 suffered damage.
The incident made Bud popular in the neighborhood, and he also received an appreciation gift bag of food and toys. Bud’s loyal and protective instincts made him a superhero for not just its pet parents, but a whole community!
9. Harley, Food Allergy Detection Dog
Food allergies are a serious business and can be life-threatening for people with severe allergies. Natalie Rice has a daughter who suffers from severe intolerance to peanuts. Her Golden Retriever Harley is a life-saver who detects if any food has peanuts.
Without Harley, Natalie’s daughter had to lead a restricted life because of her anaphylaxis, always uncertain about trying new things out of fear. With Harley trained as an allergen detection dog, Natalie and her daughter became more relieved, especially when outside.
With Harley’s training and up to 100 million scent receptors, Natalie can be sure that her daughter is safe!
10. Nemo – the Hero War Dog of the Vietnam War
Nemo, who served in the Vietnam War and saved his handler’s life, is one of the most popular canine heroes in history, to date. Stationed in the Republic of South Vietnam since 1966, Nemo’s bravery is a tale that shouldn’t go without telling.
One cold night in December of 1966, Nemo showed unmatchable loyalty and heroics when its handler, Airman 2nd Class Robert Thorneburg, was attacked while on patrol. Nemo had sensed enemy soldiers in the surroundings, alerting its handler. The Viet Cong soldiers attacked before Thorneburg could radio, wounding Nemo as a bullet passed through under its right eye and out of its mouth.
Despite being wounded, Nemo continued to defend its handler valiantly, attacking the enemy soldiers and buying time for Thorneburg to radio for help. As Thorneburg was knocked onto the ground, Nemo crawled on top of his body to protect him from harm.
Nemo’s selfless bravery and loyalty saved its handler’s life as a Quick Reaction Team arrived and killed the Viet Cong soldiers. Nemo’s life was saved, though its right eye was blinded. In 1967, Nemo returned home with honors. The canine hero got a permanent kennel at the Department of Defense Dog Center in Texas after retirement, which now serves as a memorial after his demise.
A canine companion is often the truest friend one can find. The tales of these superhero dogs are evidence that your furry friend is not just a cuddly partner that fills your home with joy, it is a loyal and selfless savior that is willing to die for you!
