Legacy of the Heroic Dog

There's a reason why the dog has been declared man's best friend. Loyal and strong, the dog has been there to protect, serve and rescue man for thousands of years.

There's a great Greek myth written by Homer called "The Odyssey." This epic poem chronicles the quest and story of King Odysseus' return home. In this infamous piece, Homer writes of Argos, Odysseus' faithful dog who waited for his master for twenty years and long after everyone else thought he was dead. Upon Odysseus' return, Argos, his faithful companion, was the first to recognize him. Written sometime between 800 and 600 BC, this tale embodies the faithfulness of the dog and its importance in our legends and mythology.

Dogs have continued to serve man as heroes and saviors throughout time, especially in war. Napoleon deployed dogs to his reserves, the Lydians had whole battalions of loyal fighting dogs, while the Romans always sent at least one dog out with every legion.

During World War I, dogs were used to send messages and sniff out bombs and enemy traps. One of the most infamous war dogs of the First World War was Rags, a Cairn Terrier and mascot for the 1st Infantry Division. During a critical campaign at Meusse-Argonne, Rags delivered a critical life-saving message, enduring massive injuries and blinding gasses. Little Rags survived and is still remembered today by his loyal Division.

There have been other famous war dogs. In World War II, Chips (a German Shepherd mix) and Smoky (a Yorkshire Terrier) were both honored for service and awarded medals. Chips was the most decorated war dog in history and earned his stripes taking out two enemy machine-gunners. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

During the Vietnam War, over 4000 dogs were recruited as MWDs (Military Working Dogs) to serve and protect U.S. troops aiding in sniffing out unknown tunnels, tracking enemy paths, carrying supplies, and conducting sentry duties to protect base camps.

Today, our police forces and rescue services continue to use K-9 unit dogs to sniff out drugs, find missing persons, and rescue individuals. During the horrific crisis of 9/11 in New York City, hundreds of Search and Rescue Unit dogs saved hundreds of lives, sniffing out survivors from the rubble and also finding remains to bring closure to grieving families.

In honor of your doggie hero, remember to celebrate National Dog Day on August 26th and give thanks for the dogs that have saved our lives, been our companions, and showed us undying love and devotion.

Credit By Randy Hemsley