This floppy-eared homeless pooch turned search-and-rescue dog was sent to Japan to search for for survivors after the country's earthquake and tsunami. Pearl's shelter-to-hero story was captured in a children’s book, A New Job for Pearl.
Photo: ASPCA
Diamond
His loud barking alerted his sleeping owner, Darryl, and Darryl's two daughters of a raging fire in their apartment. Darryl was able to save his younger daughter Darahne, but couldn’t locate older daughter Sierra. Diamond the pitbull found Sierra hiding under a bed and stayed with her, helping firefighters to rescue her in the blaze.
Photo: ASPCA
Effie
While on a walk, pooch Effie went wild tugging on her leash until her owner, Brette Grinde, had no choice but to release the dog. Effie bolted to the aid of her 94-year-old neighbor, William Lepsch, who had fallen and was in need of paramedic attention.
Photo: ASPCA
Neo
When this Siberian husky's owner, Marci Snead, went into hypoglycemic shock, Neo sprang into action. He ran into a nearby building and alerted several Good Samaritans, who followed Neo back to Snead. The paramedics were called and Sneal fully recovered.
Photo: dogguide.net
Sirus
This German Shepherd mix began to bark and claw at the front door until his owner let him outside. Within seconds, gunshots shattered the silent night and an armed intruder entered the home. Alerted to his presence by Sirus, the intruder was subdued. Though he took a bullet, Sirus miraculously survived.
Photo: ASPCA
Target
A heroic, bomb-sniffing stray dog that saved several human lives in war-torn Afghanistan, Target was brought back to the U.S. by Sgt. Terry Young. Sadly, Target escaped the yard, was taken to an animal shelter, and mistakenly euthanized.
Photo: Sgt. Terry Young
Ricochet
Best known for her inspiring, surfing videos on Youtube, Ricochet uses her talent to give back to the community. She has raised thousands of dollars for human and animal causes and surfs with kids with special needs and disabilities.
Photo: Pawmazing Photography
Belle
This talkative beagle has the green light to run up an expensive cell phone bill. Belle saved her owner, Kevin, a diabetic who was having a seizure, by biting down on the “9” key, alerting emergency personnel. She became the first dog to win the VITA Wireless Samaritan Award.
Photo: Max Taylor
Buster
This brave fella was never a barker until he had to be. In the middle of the night, Buster's owner, Barbara, was woken by his loud yapping. Barbara found her husband, Michael, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, blacked out and bleeding out after a fall. Buster’s heroic act saved his owner's life.
Photo: Barbara Palomba Marvin
Rocky
A Lakewood, Colorado, police dog, Dutch Shepherd Rocky made headlines in 2002 for chasing after and capturing a fleeing burglar—an act of dogged bravery during which he was shot.
Photo: dogguide.net
Send us a photo of a hero dog you know and check back to see if we've posted. Thanks, we hope you'll stick around.
Diamond looks just like my pit and He is the most careing dog one could have. We have a new baby and she loves him. Pits get a bad name because they want to serve masters weather the master deserve them or not.
Kevin Underwood
posted on Mar 6, 2012
I'm so sad to hear about Target! But maybe this story will touch people's hearts and wake them up from the fact that so many animals are being euthanized every day! and perhaps Target risked his life for one last time to save a life of another pooch who was supposed to be euthanized.
Reina Maehata Shelby
posted on Mar 5, 2012
Soo WONDERFUL.
Tina Tuell
posted on Feb 25, 2012
I'M an EXTREME ANIMAL LOVER,And I'm so very upset about TARGET.I can't stop crying.I feel soo sorry for his family.I'm sorry for their loss.
Tina Tuell
posted on Feb 25, 2012
THESE DOGS are AWESOME.I'M glad SIRUS survived.
Tina Tuell
posted on Feb 25, 2012
I am glad,Sirus survived.!
Brian Albert
posted on Feb 23, 2012
NEO,awesome.!
Brian Albert
posted on Feb 23, 2012
Great job,Effie.
Brian Albert
posted on Feb 23, 2012
Now that is a hero,way to go Diamond.
Brian Albert
posted on Feb 23, 2012
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