We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Pets

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Are Animals Ever Recognized for Their Bravery?

By Kevin Hellyer
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 2,261
References
Share

Soldiers who go above and beyond the call of duty are usually honored for their fearlessness in battle. There's also a longstanding award in the United Kingdom that recognizes animals that display similar gallantry in military service.

Since 1943, the Dickin Medal has drawn attention to the brave and resolute actions “performed by animals in times of great adversity.” The award is named after Maria Dickin, who in 1917 founded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British charity that provides free and low-cost veterinary care. The bronze medallion has been awarded to pigeons, dogs, horses, and even a ship's cat.

Last week, the PDSA announced that next recipient of the Dickin Medal will be a Belgian Malinois named Kuno. The four-year-old dog was injured by machine-gun fire while tackling an Al-Qaeda insurgent during a deployment with the Royal Navy's Special Boat Service in Afghanistan last year.

All about animal heroes:

  • Six of the first seven animals to win the bronze medallion, inscribed with “For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve," were carrier pigeons carrying wartime messages and relaying news for the Royal Air Force.

  • The Dickin Medal's only feline recipient is Simon, a stowaway cat that in 1949 helped keep dwindling food rations safe from rats for 100 days aboard a captive British warship, not to mention boosting morale. Simon died in quarantine three weeks after the standoff ended.

  • A similar award, the PDSA Gold Medal, was created in 2001 to honor civilian animals. The recipients (all dogs so far) have included police, service, and search-and-rescue dogs that displayed bravery in the line of duty, and pets that alerted their owners to dangers such as house fires or secured assistance for people in difficulty.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/are-animals-ever-recognized-for-their-bravery.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.