All dogs are special in their owners eyes, and our little furry friends do things all day long which make us proud. But there are some dogs which have gone above and beyond for their owners, and it is the stories of these hero dogs which make us love the entire species even more. There is simply nothing like a dog to show us love, loyalty, courage and inspiration!
We have compiled a list of some of the dogs which have inspired us over the years. If you have an inspiring dog story, be sure to share it with us! We may spotlight your local hero dog in a future post.
Hero Dogs Around the Country
Layka: This heroic German Shepherd is a distinguished and decorated member of the U.S. military. When an insurgent was attacking her handler, Layka went into action. Although shot 4 times at close range, she still took down the assailant and saved a soldier’s life. Thankfully Layka survived, and went on to a well deserved life of retirement.
Geo: This hero puppy may have only been 8 months old, but Geo already understood loyalty and protection. When a little boy named Charlie was in danger of being hit by a truck Geo went into action. He pushed his young owner out of the way, and was hit and run over himself. Thankfully, Geo survived and lived out his life with the boy he saved.
Kelsey: This 5 year old golden retriever knew something was wrong when her owner fell on the ice outside their home. Because the owner had only thought he would be outside for a few seconds, he wasn’t wearing a coat and had only slippers on his feet. Lying in the snow – and in negative temperatures – for 24 hours with a broken neck, the man was kept alive by Kelsey. The loving dog laid her body completely over him to keep him warm, and licked his hands and face to keep him alert and awake until help arrived.
Molly: Despite being blind and sick, Molly the golden lab alerted her owners to a fire that was consuming their home as they slept. The family of 7 (along with 2 other dogs and 4 cats) were all rescued from the home which was burnt completely to the ground. Molly had been given only months to live, but two years after the fire is still on watch taking care of her family.
Abbie: Hero dogs sometimes come in small packages. Abbie was not much bigger than her “little brother” Benjamin who was just an infant when she saved him. Watching carefully over Benjamin as he slept in his crib, Abbie alerted the baby’s mom to the fact that he was choking in his sleep, thus saving his life.
Frida: This search and rescue hero is a beautiful golden lab who is solely attributed with finding and rescuing 52 people after a deadly Mexico earthquake. Frida was working with the military, fearlessly searching rubble in googles and special booties to protect her.
TatorTot: Just hours before he was to be euthanized, TatorTot the pit bull was rescued by his mom. Less than a week later, the grateful dog returned the favor. Racing back and forth between his owner and her son’s room, barking loudly, she finally checked on her 4 year old son in his bed. He was not breathing, and TatorTot was frantically pawing at him and licking his face. The boy recovered, and within one week, two lives were saved.
These are just a few of the thousands of stories we have found. Hero dogs are everywhere – the fact is, there is really no more smart, loyal or loving animal on the planet, and we celebrate them all. If you have a dog in your life who is special to your family, give him a big hug and let him know.
Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training provides obedience training and play care to Sarasota and Bradenton area dogs, and we love them all!
