Canine Heroes- Fact or Fiction?

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| Print | By | September 24, 2008 5:03 PM

Every once in awhile-compelling stories appear in email boxes throughout the Internet. Since they are so appealing and heart-warming, we want to believe they are true, so they continue to circulate, frequently reappearing for many years, sometimes slightly reworded. Many times, they are tales of canine valor by which animal lovers are especially touched.

One of these stories, which actually moved me to tears last week, was this one concerning the firefighter, Jeff Clark, who saved a pregnant Doberman from a dangerous house fire, in Charlotte, North Carolina in July 1999. Can you imagine that a story this old is still around?

The original story quoted on Snopes.com, from an article appearing in the "Charlotte Observer" accompanied with this photograph, snapped by photographer Patrick Schneider, reads:

"The exhausted fireman had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire. She is pregnant."

The firefighter was afraid of her at first, because he had never been around a Doberman before. When he finally got done, putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest. A photographer, Patrick Schneider, from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, "The Observer," noticed this red Doberman in the distance looking at the fireman. He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do. As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies, and kissed him, when the Photographer snapped this photograph.

And people say animals are dumb!"

According to Snopes.com, Jeff Clark's version of the story puts a different twist on the story.

He said, “We didn't do anything (special) to save Cinnamon. When we have a house fire, we have to do a primary search. There could be people home and inside. Our first major concern is life safety. That house was full of smoke, and we couldn't see it very well. All I saw was a dog run out, and one was (already) in the backyard. I think cinnamon got out of the door herself.

The dog approached me. As soon as I knelt down and took my mask off, Patrick was coming around the corner of the house and took the picture."

Today I received yet another story about a canine hero.

K-9 Congressional Medal of Honor Winner

"The K9 above is Brutus, a military K9 at McCord. He's huge - part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff and tops the scales at 200 lbs. His handler took the picture. Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he's slobbering away! I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn't stop, but he did. "

Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq. His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant 'go away but come back and find me'.

The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door. He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an old warehouse) until it opened. He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He's the first K9 to receive this honor. If he knows you're ok, he's a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap. He also enjoys the company of cats.

Talk about animal intelligence and bonding with humans!

While moved by the story, I immediately checked it out for accuracy. Apparently, the list of medal honor recipients has no entry for a K9 soldier named Brutus. While two human soldiers have been awarded this medal for service in Iraq, there has never been a canine honored with this award. In fact, the accurate name for the medal is just "Medal of Honor." It turns out that this particular story is an internet prank. You can read more about this by visiting: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/K-9-congressional-medal.shtml

Stories similar to these so often grab us deeply. It makes me wonder what creates the awe and admiration we feel which frequently compel us to pass them along blindly to our animal loving friends. Is it that we desperately need heroes to inspire us, which we feel lacking in the human arena? On the other hand, is it more that animals engender a feeling of unconditional love, which is refreshing and healing?

What do you think? Share your opinions by leaving a comment.

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Vicki September 25, 2008 12:26 PM

There ae true stories about amazing dogs that have done incredible things. Even if thi story about Brutus is not true, it's an amazing story.

Amy September 27, 2008 6:24 AM

Even though some "hero" stories may be true, I find it a bit offensive that some people would "make up" stories just to be "published". I say unfounded stories should be checked out for accuracy before they are put in print. Let only the "true" stories of animals "heroes" be printed so the real ones may honestly honored.

annie September 27, 2008 9:27 PM

i DO love animal stories,though. one of the other famous ones -- which also didn't happen -- centers around 9/11 and the dog that supposedly saved several hundred lives. i cried over that one, then was shocked to discover that it never happened!

o well. we all need heroes in our lives -- be that two footed or four footed.

fran September 28, 2008 11:59 AM

Whenever I see a story about an amazing animal, especially a canine, I dive right into it. I'd love to believe them (as I would love to believe all the dramatic human rescue stories I hear) but I've learned (helped by snopes.com) that when your reaction to the story is to say "incredible" you should think about the meaning of that word. It means 'not worthy of belief' (dictionary.com), so one should probably take it with some measure of the proverbial grain of salt. Still, these stories make good reading and there are many which are absolutely true, as animals are capable of amazing things. (And they rarely, if ever, perpetrate hoaxes on others!)

Jeff June 3, 2009 9:23 PM

I think the story, although heart warming, is disrespectful to those who have made an extreme sacrifice in the name of our country. the Congressional Medal of Honor, (CMH) is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes him- or herself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [or her] life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." Most often this honor is bestowed posthumously. Dog stories are great, pets are great, but lets not get carried away.

Pamala July 27, 2009 3:38 AM

It's unfortunate that people make up these stories and post them on the internet. I have found this story about Brutus all over the net at numerous sites posted as if it were true.

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