Hero Dogs

Lola was a buckshot-riddled stray, lost on a Memphis highway. Cody was rejected from seven different homes. Ace had been sprayed with mace and left for dead on a train track. They were deemed unadoptable. Untrainable. Unsalvageable. These would become the same dogs America relied on when its worst disasters hit. In 1995, Wilma Melville volunteered as a canine search-and-rescue (SAR) handler with her Black Labrador Murphy in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. At the time, there were only fifteen FEMA certified SAR dogs in the United States. Believing in the value of these remarkable animals to help save lives, Wilma knew many more were needed in the event of future major disasters. She made a vow to help 168 dogs receive search-and-rescue training in her lifetime—one for every Oklahoma City victim. Wilma singlehandedly established the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) to meet this challenge. The first canine candidates—Ana, Dusty, and Harley—were a trio of golden retrievers with behavioral problems so severe the dogs were considered irredeemable and unadoptable. But with patience, discipline, and love applied during training, they proved to have the ability, agility, and stamina to graduate as SARs. Paired with a trio of firefighters, they were among the first responders searching the ruins of the World Trade Center following 9/11—setting the standard for the more than 168 of the SDF’s search-and-rescue dogs that followed. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, Hero Dogs is the story of one woman’s dream brought to fruition by dedicated volunteers and firefighters—and the bonds they forged with the incredible rescued-turned-rescuer dogs to create one of America’s most vital resources in disaster response.

Which animal can help people who are stressed or lonely? A therapy dog! Therapy dogs are trained to stay calm in all sorts of situations. They can help people practice reading, visit sick hospital patients, and more. Learn all about these furry community helpers!

What four-legged soldiers fight beside our troops? Military dogs! They can sniff out enemies and find dangerous weapons. These dogs are hardworking members of the military. Learn all about what these amazing animals can do!

An award-winning journalist takes a look at extraordinary canines, presenting real stories from the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, along with historical and scientific facts and dramatic photos in color and b&w.

The incredible true story of one dog’s heroic feats during the 2017 Tubbs Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. One October night in 2017, when wildfire raged in Sonoma and Napa counties, the Hendel family was suddenly evacuated from their homes and farms to escape to safety and forced to leave behind their Pyrenees dog, Odin. Odin refused to leave his nightly post of guarding the family’s eight young goats, despite the family’s desperate attempts to lead him away. Brokenhearted, the Hendels were sure they would never see their dog again. But when the fire calmed and the family returned home, to their shock they found Odin singed yet safe, along with all the goats and several orphaned deer the dog had protected as well. Odin, Dog Hero of the Fires is a touching and inspirational true tale that honors the bravery and strength of Odin as well as commemorates the stories of those affected by the Tubbs Fire.

100 real-life stories of canine heroism from around the world, including an New York police dog and a bomb-detecting dog in Northern Ireland. Hero Dogs celebrates the noble traits of man’s best friend—smarts, guts, devotion, perseverance, and intuition—in an extraordinary array of true stories accompanied by evocative photographs. Among the many adventurers: Mimi, a tiny peach-colored poodle, who saved a family of seven from a fiery death; Weela, an American pit bull terrier, who rescued thirty people, twenty-nine dogs, thirteen horses, and one cat from the perilous water of the swollen Tijuana River; Reona, the astonishing Rottweiler, who jumped three fences during an earthquake to come to the aid of an epileptic child. Everyone loves a hero, and everyone loves a dog. Here is a book that unites the two.

It's the winter of 1924 and a diptheria outbreak is threatening the population of Nome, Alaska. The only way to stop the deadly illness from causing a full blown epidemic is to immediately deliver one million units of the diptheria antitoxin to the affected communities ––a task that seems impossible given that the only way to reach any place in Alaska at this time of year is by dog sled. The stakes are high, and the snow is piling higher. Will the antitoxin make it in time? Or will the infection spread faster than they can treat it... Follow along as Balto and Togo lead the way in this race against time to get the antitoxin and save lives.

Calling all dog lovers! Join the adventure as National Geographic Kids Chapters presents a trio of true stories about incredible acts of canine heroism. From Glory the bloodhound, who saves lost pets, to terriers who help raise orphaned hippos, these brave pups are sure to inspire young animal lovers.