As we get older, we realize that not all heroes wear capes. In fact, most don’t. Did you know, however, that some heroes are covered in fur and respond to “good boy”?
Dogs are some of the most selfless and bravest creatures on the planet.
Whether it’s saving humans from fires in their homes or digging up covered snowboarders after an avalanche, dogs make for some incredible companions.
Known as “rescue dogs,” these are usually specially trained and super smart animals.
Rescue dogs often spend years training for their positions and, when done, are some elite animal rescuers! A trained Avalanche Rescue Dog can search 2.5 acres in 30 minutes. The equivalent area searched by a professional human team would take 20 humans, special tools, and over four hours!
“An avalanche dog can search one hectare (2.5 acres) in approximately 30 minutes, while 20 humans using avalanche probes would take around four hours to cover an equivalent area. “- The Bark
Not all dogs are suited to snow!
There are so many positions that a well-trained dog can fill. One of the wildest has to be the Lifeguard Rescue Dogs in Italy! The Italian School for Lifeguard Dogs trains and uses dogs for all sorts of incredible things.
The Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs does regular exercises to teach dogs how to save a human in the water.
Throughout the organization, they have trained more than 350 Lifeguard dogs to help people drowning! Ferruccio Pilenga is the owner and trains the dogs for the job.
“21 people saved in 2011 to date, 14 people in 2010, over 100 in the last few years.
Our dogs work as active K9 Rescue Units on Military Boats of the Italian Coast Guards and Police.
Our Units are trained to operate on board of SAR helicopters of Military Navy and Air force, with Coast Guards, with Fire Departments, with Custom Department, with Police, with 118 Emergency units.”
If you didn’t catch it, these dogs are trained to jump out of helicopters!
Newfoundland dogs (a specific breed that loves the water) can be seen LEAPING from the doors of a helicopter and into the water! Wearing little lifejackets, these dogs are then able to swim to a human to help. Once they find a human to help, they let them grab on and swim them all the way to safety! Whether its an air rescue or a speed boat, the dog’s training allows them to stay cool, calm and collected the whole time.
It takes three years for a dog to go through the program.
The dogs are such good swimmers that they can pull up to six people in the water! When there is a dog in the water, it allows the human rescuers to focus on important rescue tactics without someone who is drowning hanging onto them.
These dogs are heroes in my book!
With dozens of rescues each year, these dogs don’t need any capes to be considered a hero in our book! They save lives and risk their own safety for others. What more could you ask for?
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