US Marine Dog Receives High UK Award After 400 Missions

Bomb sniffer dog earns animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
UK Evening Standard
Lizzie Edmonds
April 5, 2016

PDSA Dicken Medal: Since the introduction of the medal in 1943 it has been awarded to 31 dogs, 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat.

A military dog who lost a leg when sniffing out a roadside bomb has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross after serving in more than 400 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lucca receiving her award (Jeremy Selwyn)

Lucca, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, served in the US Marine Corps for six years, protecting the lives of troops by sniffing out munitions.

Her efforts were awarded with the PDSA Dickin Medal, the highest award for animals serving in military conflict.

Lucca is the 67th animal to be honoured in this way and the first US Marine Corps dog to receive the medal.

There were no human casualties during any of her patrols but, in 2012, she lost her leg and suffered chest burns after discovering a home-made bomb in Afghanistan and retired.
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