Dogs to receive animal VCs for bravery in war

Blackleaf

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Oct 9, 2004
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Animal VCs for hero dogs

6th February 2007


Courageous: Black labrador Sadie of the Royal Air Veterinary Corps. In this nation of animal lovers, even dozens of pigeons have received the award





Two brave dogs are set to receive a medal known as the animals' Victoria Cross.

Black labrador Sadie will be recognised for saving the lives of hundreds of soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan.

The plucky search dog for the Royal Air Veterinary Corps sniffed out a bomb concealed behind 2ft-thick concrete wall at the United Nations' Kabul compound in November 2005.

Accompanied by her handler Lance Corporal Karen Yardley, Sadie will receive the Dickin Medal, which recognises the courage of animals serving in military conflict, at London's Imperial War Museum.

The medal will be presented by Princess Alexandra, the patron of the PDSA, the animal charity behind the award.

Lucky, a German Shepherd, will also be recognised, albeit posthumously.

Alongside his canine colleagues, Bobbie, Jasper and Lassie, Lucky used his jungle tracking skills during the 1951 Malaya campaign.

The Royal Air Force police dog was instrumental in the capture of hundreds of communist terrorists including murderous gang leader Lan-Jang-San.

RAF war veteran Corporal Bevel Austin Stapleton, Lucky's handler, will accept the award on behalf of the loyal German shepherd.

Describing the two dogs as "without doubt, worthy recipients," PDSA Director General Marilyn Rydstrvm said: "We look forward to honouring both Sadie and Lucky with the PDSA Dickin Medal.

"The medal is recognised throughout the world as the animals' Victoria Cross and is the highest award any animal can receive for bravery in the line of duty."
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Dickin Awards - The Facts

6th February 2007


Brave dogs who helped fight in wars abroad are being recognised in a ceremony today hosted by Princess Alexandra.

Sadie, a black labrador, and Lucky, a German shepherd, will be recognised for playing an essential role in combat by sniffing out bombs or danger.

Here are some facts about the Dickin Award the plucky canines are set to receive.

• The medal was the brainchild of Maria Dickin, the founder of the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals).

• The bronze medallion is inscribed with the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve". It hangs on a green, brown and blue ribbon.

• Guide dogs Salty and Roselle received the accolade in 2001 for leading their owners, who were in the World Trade Centre during the terrorist attacks, to safety.

• The award became dogged with scandal when it emerged the heroics of Rob, an SAS dog who received the medal in 1945, may have been a hoax. The canine was believed to have taken part in a series of parachute jumps behind enemy lines in north Africa and Italy but may have never left the ground, The Times reported last year.

• In the years following the Second World War, 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses and one cat were among the animals recognised for the part they played in the war effort.

• The PDSA also have a Gold Medal, which is the animal equivalent to the George Cross.

• Bamse the St Bernard posthumously received a gold medal for pushing a knife-wielding attacker over the side of his Norwegian Navy trawler to save a young lieutenant.

• In 2003, Buster the dog became a war hero after he found a stash of weapons in Iraq. The five-year-old dog found grenades, rifles, bullets and suitcases full of cash hidden behind a sheet of tin and the find led to the arrest of 16 Iraqi soldiers.

• Other impressive dogs include Pickles, who unearthed the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy after it went missing in 1966, the year that England won it. The dog reportedly found the cup, which was stolen from an exhibition, hidden in a south London hedge.

• Awards are allocated by the PDSA Council and require official citation and a corroborative witness statement or character statement.


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hermanntrude

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Jun 23, 2006
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Newfoundland!
if you're going to reward these dogs, and i'd say they deserve a reward, maybe giving them something they'll a)recognise and b)enjoy might be a good thing. possibly a large bone?
 

Hoid

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Oct 15, 2017
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Ascribing human emotions and feelings to a dog is funny.