Looking through the news here in England, I have been captivated by the stories of the dogs who helped in the search for humans trapped in the wreckage of their homes after their houses were destroyed by bombs. All were recipients of the Dickin Medal - the animal VC. In particular, it is the story of Beauty that captured my imagination. This wire-haired Fox Terrier was owned by Bill Barnett who was aPeople's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) superintendent during the Blitz.
Beauty accompanied him when he worked alongside a Civil Defence unit. On one assignment, she scratched at rubble with her paws. Not long afterwards, the team uncovered a cat buried under a table. In all, she saved 63 animals from being buried alive.
The Daily Mail carried a really interesting feature on the subject. Click here to read it.
The BBC has a slide show of the dogs involved - click here.
For more on the PDSA, which provides free veterinary services for the pets of needy owners in the UK, click here.
