World War I’s ‘mercy dogs’ crossed deadly battlefields to find soldiers no human medic could reach

Before they were our favourite couch buddies and celebrities on social media, canines were employed in jobs that demanded unimaginable courage. In the dark times during the First World War, up to 20,000 dogs were recruited from the homes of family members or animal shelters, as well as police departments, to serve in frontline combat. They carried heavy machine guns, sped vital messages across muddy trenches and were able to sniff out the positions of enemy troops.However, among the brave creatures, there was a distinct group that emerged as life-saving heroes. Also known as mercy dogs or ambulance dogs. These expertly trained dogs were given an extremely humane task: to find wounded soldiers scattered all over the battlefield. They also gave the wounded soldiers hope, even when they appeared lost.From trusted companions to lifesavers who are on the frontlineThe idea of employing dogs to assist in medical evacuation is not a new creation of wartime. Training for dogs actually goes back to the European traditional military practices of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Based on historical documents found in the magazine Marine Corps History, the first military programmes recognised the fact that dogs' instincts could be developed for crucial missions of rescue and communication in the field, changing them from characters into disciplined, valuable assets. As early as 1908, many countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, and Austria, were establishing formal programs which were usually managed by the national Red Cross societies to train dogs to face the adversities of contemporary warfare.The extent of their training was quite remarkable. The dogs were trained to disregard dead body parts and to focus on the living. They learned how to navigate turbulent battlefields by understanding the intricate hand signals given by their trainers. When they were in the middle of hostile fire, the soldiers were trained to freeze themselves or sink into the ground to be secure.Breeds like German Shepherds or Boxers were chosen to fill these positions due to their superior fitness, intelligence and their undying commitment to humankind. In a vest that was distinctively marked by the Red Cross symbol, each dog was able to carry a saddlebag filled with essential first-aid supplies as well as fresh water and liquor. In the case of a wounded soldier who was stuck in a ditch, seeing a compassionate dog running through the smoke could be the ultimate lifeline. The amazing urge to helpAfter the gunfire stopped after an extensive battle, these dog heroes were sent into the dangerous wilderness of no man's land. Since the battlefields were affected by deep craters, heavy mud and thick scrub, human rescue teams frequently missed soldiers who were in a state of unconsciousness or were unable to get around. That's where dogs' exceptional sense of smell could make an impact that could be life or death.If the soldier were alert and could walk through the streets, the dog would guide them to safety within the trenches. If the circumstances were more dire, the dogs would physically drag troops away from the area of firing. When a soldier was too seriously wounded to be able to move, the dog would take something from his clothing, such as a cap or glove, into its mouth before rushing to its handlers. This was explicit evidence of the survivor's status, and the dog was then able to lead an individual stretcher group directly to the person who was injured.The archives of the past are full of fascinating accounts of these frontline rescues. The month of October 1914 was when an article in a French journal reported the tale of a soldier heavily wounded on the battlefield and covered in debris. He remembered feeling the soft, warm, moist kisses of a dog's face. He gently brushed the animal; it fled, then returned with an ambulance crew.Some dogs have achieved fame because of their endurance. The French dog named Captain was famously found 30 wounded warriors in one day. A second dog that was heroically named Prusco was said to have saved hundreds of soldiers in one intense battle, pulling men, one at a time, from deep depressions and dense bush where they were obscured from view by humans.The comfort of the darkest nightOne of the most significant duties that the dog could perform was one that did not need medicine in any way. In addition to searching for survivors, they were instructed to locate injured soldiers who were in grave danger. If a soldier could not get medical assistance and were stranded on the ground, the dog, which was a mercy animal, would be at the soldier's side.The attentive, warm, constant presence of dogs made sure that soldiers weren't forced to confront their last moments in cold. There is a possibility that up to 10000 dogs played this particular role throughout the conflict. Their work resulted in hundreds of rescues that were confirmed, with at most 22,000 lives rescued in France, as well as another 4,000 lives saved in Germany. The animals displayed dedication and courage that exemplified the highest of animal-human bonds. They earned the status of nationwide heroes.