From saving lives to providing entertainment on-screen, dogs have done so much throughout history to inspire humans. Here are six dogs whose impact was so great that they made the history books.
Peritas
One of the earliest notable dogs in history was Peritas, owned by Alexander the Great in Ancient Greece. Alexander the Great is widely known for creating one of the largest empires in ancient history. However, a lesser-known aspect of this history is how Alexander’s accomplishments would not have been possible without his loyal dog, Peritas. Alexander the Great had many brave war dogs, but Peritas was known to be his favorite.
This loyal pup saved Alexander’s life during a battle in India. He held off attackers until Alexander’s soldiers arrived to help, saving his life. Unfortunately, Peritas was mortally wounded and was said to have died with his head in Alexander’s lap. In honor of his brave dog, Alexander named the city where the battle occurred after Peritas. If it hadn’t been for Peritas’ heroic actions in battle, the empire that later formed into Western civilization likely wouldn’t exist.
Rin Tin Tin
Before his life of fame, Rin Tin Tin was found in a bombed French village during World War I. An American soldier rescued him from the battlefield and brought him to the United States. This soldier trained Rin Tin Tin and began to get him into silent films. Rin Tin Tin quickly became a movie star and was loved all over the world.
By the end of his career, Rin Tin Tin had starred in 27 films and was known worldwide. It was rumored that at the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony, he was the original winner in the vote for Best Actor. Following his passing, broadcasters paused regular television airings to inform viewers nationwide via a breaking news bulletin. The following day, television programs aired an hour-long program to memorialize this beloved pup. Today, Rin Tin Tin has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Buddy
Buddy was a German Shepherd in the 20th century who became known as the first trained guide dog. She was first trained by Dorothy Harrison Eustis, whose goal was to teach dogs to assist WWI veterans who had gone blind. Shortly after, Buddy appeared in a newspaper article that a blind man named Morris Frank heard about from his father. Frank traveled to meet Buddy and her trainer, who had been working in Switzerland. Upon bringing Buddy to the US, Frank became the first American to use a trained seeing-eye dog.
Shortly after, Frank and Eustis were inspired to help others who had lost their vision. Together, they founded The Seeing Eye, the first institution in the world to train guide dogs. Both Frank and Buddy played a significant role in the development of laws that gave service dogs public access. Throughout her lifetime, Buddy traveled over 50,000 miles around the world to showcase the importance of seeing eye dogs. She is now known as the pioneer of all guide dogs and is credited for building a foundation that improved the lives of many people with vision loss.
Sergeant Stubby
Not to be fooled by his small stature, Sergeant Stubby is an American hero who bravely fought in 17 battles during World War I. This pup was found wandering a college campus and adopted by a US Corporal, who snuck him onto the troop ship. When Stubby was discovered by the commanding officer, he saluted the officer (a trick he had been trained on in camp) and was allowed to stay with the troop. Sergeant Stubby entered the war in 1918 on the Western Front in France, where he fought alongside soldiers for 18 months.
Sergeant Stubby saved countless lives during his military career by warning soldiers of incoming military threats and mustard gas. He also comforted the wounded on the battlefield and served as a loyal friend to many. Due to his heroic actions, Sergeant Stubby is the unofficial mascot of the 102nd US Infantry Regiment. To this day, he is the only dog who has reached the level of sergeant.
Laika
Amid the Space Race of the 20th century, Laika made history as the first living being to enter space. Laika was a stray dog living in the streets of Moscow, who then became the furry passenger on the Sputnik 2 spacecraft. Before her journey, scientists trained Laika to adapt to small living spaces and eat jellied food to prepare her for life on the satellite. Sadly, Laika did not survive the trip through space. However, this canine traveler paved the way for other living space travel. Laika’s journey to space forced other countries to shift their efforts to putting a man on the moon, which led to the first man on the moon in 1969.
These pups, along with many others, have played a significant role in history through their diverse contributions. From working alongside humans in various roles to providing companionship and unwavering loyalty, these remarkable animals have rightfully earned the title of “man’s best friend.”
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