Hero dogs can be found anywhere. But they thrive in extremely dangerous situations such as war zones. Like their counterparts in the police, military dogs risk their lives by helping their masters detect explosives and protect military bases.
Some military dogs go beyond their job descriptions by developing a bond with their fellow soldiers. This unnamed Belgian Malinois posted to Syria is one of them.
360-degree ambush
The Malinois from Belgium was on a routine patrol mission with six members of the Special Air Service (SAS) in a small Syrian village when they were suddenly ambushed by enemy forces from all sides.
Although the group immediately defended itself by raining its attackers, it seemed that the jihadists would soon get around them. It was in this brawl that the brave dog moved up a gear and helped protect British soldiers in trouble.
He managed to defeat one of the jihadists by throwing himself on it and soon fought against two others. Shortly after, the six enemy soldiers turned around and fled.
According to military sources, the incident occurred more than two months ago but was only made public recently for security reasons.
"The dog was hardly injured. The SAS were able to consolidate their defensive position and eventually withdraw from the battle without incurring losses. "
In the end, the SAS team commander acknowledged that the Belgian Malinois military dog had saved their lives during his mission.
Other courageous military dogs
Knowing this story, we can not help but think of other stories of dogs as brave as we have already met.
There is Chip, who would be the most decorated K9 of the Second World War. According to Barkpost, the Husky-Collie mix saved his master during an invasion of southern Italy in 1943.
Pinned by enemy fire, Chip would have liberated himself and attacked the enemy soldiers, which would have returned them to the American troops with whom Chip was. For his courageous act, the military dog has received numerous awards.
If you look at the more recent history, you'll also see Treo, a bomb-sniffing dog who worked with British troops. This good boy received the Dickin Medal after successfully detecting many roadside bombs.
In case you do not know, the medal is considered the highest animal honor in the UK.
War dogs perform a wide variety of tasks during their service, although most of them have their own specialization.
For example, guard dogs are trained to warn their masters of danger by growling or barking. They are particularly effective in situations where the forces are in an unlit place. Watchdogs are assigned to work in airports, factories, and supply areas.
The heroic Belgian Malinois mentioned above belongs to the category of scouts or patrol dogs. While these military dogs also perform guardrail functions, they are trained to work silently as they track enemy snipers during ambushes.
Not all dog breeds are fit to be trained as scouts, as they must be particularly intelligent and quiet to perform these functions.
These military dogs are really incredible.