PDSA

The PDSA Dickin Medal is the highest honour that can be bestowed on an animal in military service. Recognised as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross and instituted in 1943, it acknowledges outstanding acts of bravery or devotion to duty. Goodwoof will commemorate the incredible canines awarded the Dickin Medal by celebrating their tales of derring-do.

Judy

Judy was an English Pointer who proved far more than a mascot when the HMS Grasshopper was attacked and sunk by Japanese planes in 1942. Along with her crew, she swam to a nearby island, where after days of desperate thirst Judy saved the lives of the crew by unearthing a freshwater spring. This was only the beginning of her remarkable story; she would go on to be declared the Second World War’s only official canine prisoner of war, eventually returning to Britain after the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Rob the Paradog

This courageous Collie crossbreed’s career began with an infantry unit during landings in the North African campaign and later took him to the Special Air Unit (SAU) which saw him parachuting behind enemy lines in Italy as a part of vital missions. A veteran of more than 20 jumps, he earned the nickname ‘paradog’ and became a bit of canine celebrity of his time.

Beauty

A Wirehaired Terrier owned by PDSA Superintendent Bill Barnet, Beauty is considered by many to be one of the world’s first ‘rescue dogs’. As an untrained companion to Bill on his rescue missions at the height of the London Blitz, Beauty’s talents made her a key member of the search and rescue team and she was responsible for saving 63 lives.

Chips

Chips the Husky crossbreed was one of 10,000 dogs that formed the Dogs for Defence force when the USA joined World War II in 1941. Chips and his handler took part in covert operations behind enemy lines in French Morocco; when Churchill and Roosevelt met at the Casablanca Conference, Chips and his handler were part of the protection force. The courageous canine saved the lives of his platoon in Sicily, running towards the enemy fire and disarming an enemy soldier.