Tales of heroic dogs from fact and fiction... and the truth about some of the fictional ones.
The stray who became a World War I hero
Sergeant Stubby was a stray Boston Terrier (probably; Boston Terrier was a new breed then, so he might have been something similar) who was found wandering the grounds of the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut, in July 1917, w…
Dogs in arson and fire scene investigation
In the aftermath of a fire, the scene can be chaotic and difficult to read. Charred remains, collapsed structures and the smell of smoke can mask the clues that point to how the blaze began. For investigators, one of the most important ques…
Dorothy's famous companion in Oz
Toto is one of the most recognisable dogs in popular culture, thanks to his role as Dorothy Gale’s loyal companion in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its many adaptations. Created by L. Frank Baum, Toto first appeared in the original 1900 no…
Saving the day since 1859!
The original depiction of a Collie called Lassie is found in an 1859 short story, The Half-brothers, by English author Elizabeth Gaskell. This story established the Lassie saves the day story-line that runs through all the Lassie tales. Las…
The only dog ever registered as a prisoner of war
Judy is the only animal to be registered as a prisoner of war during World War II. In June 1939 she was aboard HMS Grasshopper when it was sunk during the Battle of Singapore. The surviving crew made their way to a deserted island and Judy …