Buzz
The timeless phrase 'dogs are man's best friend' rings true in these stories. These dogs exhibit incredible love and devotion, not just to their owners but often to other creatures they care for. Many have bravely risked their own lives to protect those they love, saving lives that would have otherwise been lost.
10. Balto
In 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria swept through the town of Nome, Alaska, infecting many children. Diphtheria starts with trouble breathing and swallowing, and if left untreated, it can cause heart failure and paralysis.
At the time, Nome was so isolated that even boats and airplanes couldn’t reach it due to the severe ice, snow, and blizzard conditions. The nearest medicine was hundreds of miles away, leaving sled dogs as the only option. Over 20 men, each leading a team of sled dogs, battled freezing temperatures as low as -45°C (-50°F) and fierce winds reaching speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph).
The final man left, Gunnar Kassen, drove a sled team led by a Siberian husky named Balto. Despite Gunnar’s uncertainty and desire to quit in the harsh conditions, Balto recalled the trail from previous journeys. His instincts guided the team through the storm, leading them to Anchorage, where the life-saving medicine awaited.
Balto quickly became a national hero, with his image gracing the covers of newspapers across the country. A statue of him now stands proudly in Central Park.
After their heroic journey, Balto and his fellow dogs were sold to a traveling circus. Eventually, they were rescued and spent the rest of their lives at the Cleveland Zoo. Upon his death, Balto’s body was preserved and is now displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Numerous films have been made about his story, and annual sled races in Alaska continue to honor his legacy.
9. Jock
Jock and Annabelle, a pair of Scottish terriers, were a devoted couple who lived with their owner for five years in Orange, Massachusetts. When their owner was unexpectedly hospitalized in January 2016, the dogs were left without care. They managed to escape and wandered outside, possibly searching for food.
During their adventure, Annabelle tragically fell 9 meters (30 ft) down a steep embankment full of trees and sharp branches. Seeing her in danger, Jock immediately rushed to find help. He found a police officer and guided him to the location where Annabelle had fallen, desperate to save her.
The rescue was successful, and the dogs were taken into the care of animal control officers. They observed that it's not uncommon for dogs to form deep, loving connections with each other, much like humans. Jock was even hailed as the 'real-life Lassie,' likened to the iconic TV dog known for running to humans in times of crisis.
8. Leo
In 2008, a devastating house fire broke out in Melbourne, Australia. A mother and her three children managed to escape the flames with one dog, but their second dog, Leo, a Jack Russell terrier, refused to leave the house while everyone else fled.
When firefighters entered the house to combat the fire, they found Leo unconscious from smoke inhalation. He had used his body to shield a litter of four newborn kittens from the flames. The mother cat was nowhere to be found, and Leo had bravely stayed behind to protect the vulnerable kittens.
The firefighters rushed Leo to an ambulance, where he was given oxygen, a heart massage, and water. Once revived, his primary concern was the kittens he had been protecting.
In the footage captured by the media, Leo can be seen lovingly licking the kittens, as though he was protecting his own babies. Eventually, the mother cat was located as well. The very next day, Leo was spotted sitting in front of the burned house, still guarding his home and family from any potential danger.
7. Angel
In 2010, an 11-year-old boy named Austin from British Columbia, Canada, was in his backyard with his 18-month-old golden retriever, Angel. Austin was busy gathering firewood to bring inside, and Angel remained close by his side. Suddenly, a cougar appeared, and without hesitation, Angel leapt into action to protect the boy from the imminent attack.
A fierce fight to the death broke out between Angel and the cougar. Austin’s mother quickly ushered him inside and called the police. Moments later, an officer arrived and shot the cougar to prevent further harm.
At first, it was assumed that Angel had not survived, as the cougar had sunk its teeth deep into her neck and she was losing a significant amount of blood. However, to everyone’s surprise, Angel was still alive. The first thing she did upon regaining consciousness was walk over to Austin to ensure his safety.
Angel was rushed to the veterinarian immediately, where it was confirmed that she would not have survived much longer had the fight continued. Thankfully, she made a full recovery from her injuries and continues to live with her family to this day.
6. Lucy
In 2015, Lucy, a six-year-old pit bull from Fort Myers, Florida, lived with her owners, Rodrick and Victoria, as well as their newborn baby. Rodrick's mother, Lisa, and other relatives resided in the same apartment complex.
After returning home from the hospital, Lisa was shocked to find her ex-boyfriend, Walter, waiting for her inside her apartment. When she asked him to leave, a violent argument ensued. In his rage, Walter destroyed her television with a crowbar, punched her in the face, and threatened her with a knife.
Upon hearing Lisa's screams, Rodrick rushed to her aid with Lucy, his loyal pit bull. Recognizing the danger to Lisa, Lucy charged at Walter and began attacking him. Walter retaliated by stabbing the dog in the neck, causing significant blood loss. Despite her injuries, Lucy refused to stop fighting to protect her family.
While he was distracted by the dog, Lisa's three sons rushed to help their mother, managing to pin Walter to the ground. One of the sons was injured and stabbed in the arm. The police arrived shortly after and arrested Walter, who was later convicted of battery.
Tragically, Lucy, the pit bull, did not survive. In news footage, Lisa was seen desperately holding a towel to Lucy’s neck, trying to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, Lucy went into cardiac arrest and passed away the following day.
5. Ashepoo
In South Carolina, two-year-old Peyton was being cared for by his grandparents in late November 2012. While playing in the backyard with their Australian shepherd, Ashepoo, Peyton suddenly sprinted full speed toward the woods. His grandfather, who was nearby filling a tractor tire with air for a trip to pick out a Christmas tree, looked up only to realize the toddler had disappeared.
Peyton’s parents and neighbors quickly organized a search party. Hundreds of volunteers, news crews, and ambulances arrived to assist in finding the missing boy. The night was cold, and the longer Peyton was missing, the slimmer the chances of his survival became.
Members of the search party found Ashepoo on a trail where she barked to lead them to a stranger’s barn. Inside the barn, they found Peyton asleep, curled up for warmth. Only four hours had passed since he went missing, and Peyton was unharmed. Without Ashepoo’s assistance, it’s uncertain if the search team would have located him as quickly as they did.
4. The Argentinian Stray
In La Plata, Argentina, a newborn boy was abandoned in the streets in 2008. On that cold night, with temperatures dropping to just 3 degrees Celsius (37 °F), a stray female dog found the crying infant.
She gently picked up the baby in her mouth and carried him to join her own newborn puppies. Police found the baby after neighbors reported hearing cries. The stray dog had been sheltering the baby, keeping him warm alongside her litter.
Around midnight, the police transported the baby to the hospital, where doctors treated him for minor injuries from being carried in the dog’s mouth. They confirmed that the baby would not have survived much longer without the dog’s intervention, as he was hungry, cold, and alone. The stray dog had indeed saved his life.
A neighbor of the 14-year-old mother drove her to the hospital and forced her to admit to abandoning her child. Afterward, she was taken in for a psychological assessment and admitted to a mental health facility.
3. Kankuntu
Businessman Peter Lee and his wife, Betty, were on a global sailing adventure aboard their yacht. In 2008, they were situated 3 kilometers (2 miles) off the coast of Venezuela, a region known for its dangers, where tourists are regularly targeted for robbery and kidnapping.
Armed pirates in a small fishing boat managed to quickly approach the Lees' yacht and board it. They began firing at Peter and soon after, a group of young men tied up the couple and held guns to their heads.
The Lees' dog, Kankuntu, whom they had adopted in Gambia, started attacking the intruders in a brave attempt to defend the couple. Kankuntu was shot and stabbed, and the pirates left him for dead.
Though gravely wounded, Kankuntu crawled beneath the kitchen table and waited for the pirates to leave. It wasn’t long before the pirates had looted everything of value and departed the ship.
Afterward, Peter carefully treated Kankuntu’s injuries, including removing a bullet lodged in his leg. Upon reaching the nearest island, the Lees immediately took Kankuntu to a veterinarian for further care.
Thankfully, Kankuntu made a full recovery. He continues to watch over the Lees' boat, always ready to defend against any potential threat.
2. Killian
In 2012, Ben and Hope from Charleston, South Carolina, entrusted their infant son, Finn, to a babysitter named Alexis Khan. After a thorough background check and interview, they felt confident in Alexis's ability to care for their child.
Five months into the arrangement, Ben and Hope’s dog, Killian, a black Labrador shepherd mix, began to show aggression toward Alexis, positioning himself between her and the baby. This was completely out of character for Killian, who had always been affectionate with everyone, including Alexis, who had been with the family for a while.
Suspicious of their dog’s behavior, Ben and Hope decided to set up an iPhone to secretly record audio in Finn’s bedroom while they were away. They left the device running for seven hours. During most of the recording, Hope could hear Finn crying in his crib.
On the recording, Alexis was heard shouting and cursing at the baby, demanding he stop crying. However, she failed to comfort him, feed him, or change his diaper. Instead, the audio also captured the sound of slapping and Finn’s voice as Alexis picked him up and violently shook him. In September 2013, Alexis Kahn was sentenced to 1–3 years in prison for her actions.
1. Orlando
In December 2013, Cecil Williams, a blind man, collapsed and fell onto the subway tracks in New York City. His guide dog, Orlando, a black Labrador retriever, immediately jumped onto the tracks and barked loudly to alert the people nearby of the dangerous situation.
A train was rapidly approaching, but with Orlando standing protectively over Cecil, the conductor saw them in time to try and stop the train. Although both Cecil and Orlando were struck by the slow-moving train, they only suffered minor injuries. Had it not been for Orlando’s quick action, Cecil would have been struck at full speed, almost certainly resulting in his death.
Cecil was informed that he would soon need to retire Orlando, as the dog had reached 11 years of age, the typical retirement age for a guide dog. However, after the incident, Cecil was allowed to keep Orlando as his pet. In addition, Cecil was given a new guide dog, a yellow Labrador named Godiva, from Guiding Eyes For The Blind.
