10 Animal Heroes Who Deserve a Special Place in Our Hearts

Some events in history would have a completely different outcome if it weren’t for our animal companions. While some of these animals became famous for their devotion and bravery, others served humans in less expected ways. From tiny horses to pigeons, all of these animals answered the call of duty by lending a helping paw, hoof, beak, and wing in difficult situations.

Bright Side brings you 10 stories of superhero animals who secured their place in history and in our hearts.

1. Balto and Togo, dog heroes who prevented the spread of the Diptheria pandemic in Alaska

In the winter of 1925, a devastating diphtheria outbreak in the remote Alaskan town of Nome threatened the lives of the people who lived there. With a raging blizzard and freezing cold temperatures as low as −23°F it was impossible to reach the residents by any means of transportation, aside from a sleigh.

Togo was the lead sled dog of a sled dog team owned by musher Leonhard Seppala who was on a mission to deliver serum to the town. Although the media initially only credited Balto, the dog who covered the last stretch of the dangerous route, Togo was also later recognized as the dog who covered a far greater distance than any other lead dog on the mission. Both dogs were later featured in 2 separate movies, as true animal celebrities.

2. Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned animal

Dolly, a famous sheep named after Dolly Parton, made headlines in 1996 as the world’s first mammal to be successfully cloned using an adult cell. Although cloning may have many uses in preserving endangered species and even in providing a way for reviving extinct species, Dolly’s main legacy is that her cloning provided advancements in stem cell research.

3. Elsa, the lioness who propelled wildlife conservation

George Adamson, a Kenyan game warden, and his wife Joy adopted an orphaned lion cub named Elsa in 1956. Elsa was nurtured and cared for by the Adamsons at their house in Africa for many years. The couple tried to teach the lioness to hunt on her own, fearing that she may not be able to develop the skills she needed to survive in the wild.

Elsa was eventually freed and returned to the wild, and she miraculously survived. In 1960, Joy Adamson published the non-fiction book Born Free about her experience raising Elsa. 6 years later, a critically acclaimed film based on the book was produced, and it is credited with popularizing wildlife conservation.

4. David Graybeard, the chimpanzee who inspired the research of emotion in primates

David Graybeard was the first chimpanzee to let British scientist Jane Goodall observe him in Gombe Stream National Park, setting the path for her groundbreaking research on emotion in primates. Graybeard was the first to welcome Jane and, thanks to him, other primates let the scientist get closer and reach revolutionary discoveries about their behavior. He showed the scientist how chimpanzees use tools.

She discovered that empathy, compassion, respect for elders, and resourcefulness are some of the common traits we share with our chimp-relatives, which completely changed our understanding of non-human primates.

5. Pickles, a pet dog who solved a high-profile robbery

Shortly before the 1966 World Cup, the Jules Rimet trophy (predecessor of the FIFA World Cup trophy) vanished from London’s Central Hall just before the World Cup was about to start. The British investigators on the case all came up empty-handed.

Big companies offered money to anyone who could find the lost trophy. Then, one week later, a man in South London was walking his dog who suddenly started sniffing around a bush. When the owner looked underneath, he was thrilled to discover the Jules Rimet trophy wrapped in newspaper and tucked away under the bush.

Pickles was awarded a silver medal by the National Canine Defense League for his discovery. His act earned him celebrity status and he even became a movie star.

6. The sacred geese of Juno saved Rome from invasion

According to legend, the sacred geese of Juno were the heroes who warned Romans of the invasion of the Gauls and saved the city. Guards and their dogs somehow failed to notice the enemy troops that were trying to climb over the protective wall. But miraculously, the honks and cackling of the sacred geese of Juno from the Capitoline temple woke up the Roman soldiers from their slumber, prompting them to take action.

Even today, geese are favored over dogs in some cases. For example, police forces in rural China use geese as their guards instead of dogs.

7. Magic, a miniature therapy horse that brings joy to those who need it most

In 2011 Magic was chosen by Time magazine as one of History’s Ten Most Heroic Animals. Magic is one of 26 miniature horses from Gentle Carousel, a charity organization based in Florida. She works in hospitals, group homes, programs for Alzheimer’s patients, and she helps children with developmental delays and patients in hospice care.

Her comforting presence does wonders for those who need unconditional love and affection the most. On one of her therapy visits, Magic even helped a woman who lost her voice to start speaking again. The woman was moved by Magic’s presence so much that she exclaimed: ’’She’s so beautiful!’’ - her first words after many years.

8. Smoky, the first therapy dog

Devotion and bravery sometimes come in small packages. A little Yorkie named Smokey is credited as being one of the first therapy dogs before official findings on animal-assisted therapy were published in the ’60s by doctor Boris M. Levinson.

Smoky, a stray found in the New Guinea jungle and adopted by Corporal William A. Wynne, provided a comforting and healing presence to wounded soldiers in the South Pacific in the ’40s. She was allowed to accompany nurses on their visits to patients and even sleep in the hospital. She is also credited for saving the lives of 250 soldiers by managing to pass a telegraph wire through a 70-foot-long 8-inch-wide hole.

Smoky’s well-deserved memorial in Ohio credits all dogs that served humanity in difficult times.

9. Pigeons, life-saving message carriers

Pigeons have played an important role in the communications departments of many civilizations throughout history. From 776 BC and the first Olympic Games when athletes sent a homing pigeon back to the winner’s village to deliver good news about the game results, to Genghis Khan who used pigeons to establish a communication network across Asia and Eastern Europe.

These humble birds are also credited as life-saving messengers during conflicts in recent history, which is proven by a long list of pigeons who received the Dickin Medal for their brave acts.

10. All search-and-rescue dogs who helped humans in the most difficult situations

Thanks to their incredible sense of smell, dogs can find people trapped under collapsed buildings, under snow and water, and track the human scent for up to 10 kilometers. Whether trained or untrained, dogs have always lent a helping paw in rescue efforts after natural or man-made disasters, confirming that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”

BONUS: A brave cat who saved a boy and got the ’’Hero Dog’’ award

In 2014, a video of a brave cat saving her little human from a dog attack went viral. Tara the cat didn’t think twice when she rushed to rescue her owner’s 4-year-old son from the jaws of a dog who knocked him off of his bicycle. Her protective, dog-like behavior, made headlines and she was awarded the Annual Hero Dog Award by the Los Angeles SPCA.

Which animal’s hero story do you find the most surprising? Are there any other animals that you think should be on this list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.