Heroes are all around us. Some people wear cloaks and have supernatural powers. Others remain hidden and are closely monitoring. Some have thick, fluffy fur, playful tails and pointy ears. Yes, there are dogs too!
Military working dogs have always been true canine heroes. They risk their lives to serve and protect. One of them is Kuno, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who did his best to fulfill his duties.
Thanks to his courageous actions, Kuno is now a retired pup with braces and prosthetic legs. But he had never felt so alive.
This is why Cuno was awarded the British Army’s highest honour, the Order of Dickin. He deserves it, and I might add, even more. hero dog
Kuno has completed several successful military missions, but his last mission will forever stay with him. Cuno was there when British forces attacked an al-Qaeda base. The troops soon found themselves trapped and unable to evacuate.
Cuno and his brave British soldiers were surrounded by heavily armed troops with grenades and machine guns. The only solution was sacrifice.
Kuno did something that no one asked him to do. His courage showed through and he was the first to attack. Without hesitation, Kuno pushed through the rain of gunfire and caught the culprit. The flow of the attack changed, the situation changed, and Kuno was instrumental in completing the mission.
Although the soldiers were saved, the mission wasn’t a complete success. Casualties simply had to happen. Kuno was one. He received many gunshot wounds to his hind legs and was immediately rushed to the U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility.
The operation was long and tiring. The result was a saved life, but at the cost of one lost hind paw.
Kuno is completely fine now. He has a prosthetic limb on one hind leg and a brace on the other. He’s the first U.K. Military working dog with a custom-fitted prosthetic limb. Even though he’s now retired, Kuno enjoys life with his forever family, who adopted him shortly after the incident.
Now Kuno has a normal life filled with love and cuddles!
Kuno’s bravery was, fortunately, recognized. It has earned him the Dickin Medal awarded by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), making Kuno the 72nd animal to win the award. Since 1943, when the award was founded, 35 dogs, 32 WWII messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat have received the medal.
Way to go, Kuno! Enjoy your well-earned retirement, you brave dog!
