Heroic German Shepherd Saves Platoon in Iraq

by Diana Faria

Published: May 16th, 2016

heroic german shepherd saves platoon in iraq

Military dogs do more than sniff out bombs on the front lines. ISIS terrorists were sent running when a fearless military dog protected his entire platoon.

A lot goes into military training when it comes to a dog, one of them being recognizing a threat and neutralizing them. Thankfully, this military German Shepherd didn’t hesitate to save his human family using his military training and his very powerful jaws.

The British Special Forces team was reportedly returning from a 10-day training exercise for Peshmerga fighters, traveling with their four-legged companion.

The convoy (which consisted of our vehicles) was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) and were trapped by a group of approximately 50 ISIS fighters. The Special Forces army left their vehicles and split up between three areas.

When the British forces tried to move out, the jihadists attacked them from behind. That’s when a US soldier (who was travelling with the convoy) released the dog from his leash. The German Shepherd ran towards the enemy fighters and took a bite out of the first attacker’s neck and face. The second received bites to the arm and leg. Both of them ran off after being attacked by the dog and it wasn’t long before the military fighters fended off the rest of their forces.

The German Shepherd was reportedly still in a training role, but when worst came to worst, he sprung into action and successfully protected the troops. When the enemies fled, the dog came back to his troop unscathed and tail wagging.

According to a Daily Star source, dogs accompany the Special Forces on operations from time to time, their roles sometimes involving entering buildings before any troop steps in. This time around, the dog probably sensed the tension from the attacks and yearned to spring into action to protect its handler and the other troops.

It doesn’t take much convincing to understand this dog’s action – after all, we all know a dog or two who would have no problem protecting their owner should they feel threatened! In this case, this brave dog trusted his instincts and thanks to his training, was able to scare off two fighters before his handler or anyone else got hurt. Now that’s what we call a heroic pooch!

[ Source: TheSun ]

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In true Lassie-like fashion, a family’s pet Cockapoo saved a little boy in Northern Ireland after he was trapped in a dryer that turned on and nearly killed him. A five-year-old little boy from Northern Ireland and his big brother were playing hide-and-go-seek while their mom was vacuuming another room. Typical scene from many homes all over the world, right? Except in this one, Riley Gedge-Duffy, who has Down’s Syndrome, decided the family’s clothes dryer would be the perfect hiding place… and so he climbed in and shut the door behind him. The dryer locked and automatically started, dangerously spinning Riley around and around. Riley’s family pet Cockapoo Teddy knew something was not right and immediately went to alert Riley’s mom, Gillian Duffy. According to her, Teddy kept barking obnoxiously, and running in and out of the room as if he wanted her to and go and follow her. She wasn’t sure what was happening but then immediately wondered where Riley was and started feverishly hunting for him. She asked Riley’s brother Freddie where he was, and Freddie replied he did not know. Related: Research Shows Kids Are Closer To Pets Than Siblings Still, Teddy kept barking and running frantically in front of the dyer. It was running, but dark inside, and so Gillian did not instantly see that Riley was trapped. Hearing banging and crashing coming from it, though, Freddie could see Riley’s iPad tumbling around inside and they immediately opened the door and pulled Riley out. Once out, Riley’s mom poured cold water over him, as he had received several extensive burns, and then Riley’s dad, Aaron Duffy returned home less than a minute later. They stripped poor Riley and showered him with cold water while they waited for the emergency services they’d called to come and further treat Riley. Rile was rushed to the local hospital and was treated for burns and bruising to his head, but considering that Riley may have been in the dryer for a few minutes, the family is grateful that is the extent of his injury. Children have died when trapped in washers and dryers due to lack of oxygen, but that the dryer was on and heat made the fact that Riley is now doing well and didn’t die more miraculous. Related: Heroic German Shepherd Saves Platoon In Iraq Riley’s parents cannot imagine what would have happened if Teddy hadn’t been there and hadn’t so heroically insisted that Riley’s mom investigate and save their boy immediately. Teddy has a history of alerting his family to danger–in just the last two months, he also alerted his family to an iPhone charger that caught on fire–and possibly saved the family home from burning down! They know that without Teddy, this situation with Riley would have had a far more tragic outcome, and they say that Teddy is a brilliant and amazing dog. We agree! Good boy, Teddy! Good boy! [Source: The Telegraph]

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The US National Park Service is Being Sued Over Stray Cats

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Can Counterconditioning Help My Reactive Dog?

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How Can I Prevent My Dog From Barking When They’re Home Alone?

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How Often Should I Feed My Fish?

Keeping aquarium fish is such a rewarding experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to do so – there are many things to know about these wonderful creatures, and caring for them can require a lot of patience and plenty of learning. Of course, it all starts with the basic stuff, and it doesn’t get more basic than feeding your pet! A common question by pet fish owners is related to feeding frequency, as their aquatic friends can’t really let them know when they are hungry. So, without further ado, here’s how often should you feed your fish depending on their unique characteristics.How Often Should I Feed My Fish?There are a lot of factors that will determine the feeding schedule you have for the inhabitants of your saltwater or freshwater aquarium. The frequency of feeding your fish depends on the type of fish, their age, and the specific conditions of your tank. Adult tropical fish are most commonly fed once or twice a day. You can feed them a small amount of food that they can consume within a few minutes. Cold-water adult fish, on the other hand, such as  goldfish, can be fed two or three times a day. In any case, be cautious not to overfeed as it can lead to water quality issues.Young fish, however, may require more frequent feeding, at least three times a day, because they are still growing rapidly. Of course, some specific types of fish have equally specific dietary requirements. Research the particular needs of the species you are keeping to ensure you are providing the right type and amount of food. Your local pet fish store can also provide guidelines, as can your vet. When you are feeding your fish, it is important to stick around and observe them, at least initially. Paying attention to your fish during feeding can provide you with plenty of information. If they consume all the food quickly, you can consider increasing the amount slightly. If there is uneaten food after a few minutes, you may be overfeeding. Try to find that perfect balance. Another thing to consider is the so-called “fasting day”. This means not giving your fish any food for a period of 24 hours – and don’t worry, this won’t harm them. It's a good idea to incorporate a fasting day into the weekly routine. This helps mimic their natural feeding patterns and allows their digestive systems to rest. Most aquarists fast their fish for one day of the week, which is more than enough for your fish to reap the benefits.How Much Food Should I Give My Fish?A good rule of thumb is to always give less food than you think your fish need – and add more additionally throughout multiple feedings during the day if needed. Remember that overfeeding can lead to poor water quality as uneaten food breaks down and produces waste. It's crucial to maintain a balance and not exceed the recommended amount. In such cases, it is good to have a  special aquarium water quality monitor, which can tell you the key information about the water in the tank. Additionally, some fish species are more active during certain times of the day, so adjusting feeding times to coincide with their natural behavior can be beneficial.

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