It is widely believed, with a sense of pride in our humanity, that the wonderful potentials human beings are blessed with, if utilised judiciously, enable us to perform laudable and astounding actions and inventions that save and better the lives of humankind and other forms of life on the face of the earth.
But history has proven that it’s not only human beings that perform incredible actions that are deserving of recognition and honour. Surprisingly, some animals have proven they have talents too.
One of such animals is a Great Dane (dog) that goes by the name Juliana.
Juliana was awarded two Blue Cross medals in her lifetime. Do you wonder what incredible actions she did that made her deserving of both awards? Well, we’ll tell you and trust us, they’re quite incredible.
The first action was performed during World War II. Wikipedia reports – “In April 1941, two years into World War II , incendiary bombs were being dropped across Britain during The Blitz . One such device is believed to have fallen through the roof of the house in which Juliana and her owner lived. The dog is reported to have stood over the bomb and urinated on it, extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading. She was awarded her first Blue Cross medal for her actions.” [End quote]
Incredible right?
Well, the second heroic action was performed 3 years after that. Wikipedia reports – “Juliana was celebrated as a hero for a second time when, in November 1944, she again helped to save the lives of her owners. After a fire had taken hold in their shoe shop, she alerted her master’s family to the impending danger. For this she was awarded a second medal. The second medal, along with a portrait of Juliana, was discovered during a house clearance in Bristol. The items were sold together at a Gloucestershire auction in September 2013, with the auctioneer describing Juliana as “a Great Dane with a great bladder”. Initially expected to achieve £60, the sale reached £1,100 with the winning bid coming from an anonymous buyer.”
Juliana was reported to have later died in 1946 from poisoning after she got in contact with a substance that was posted through her owner’s letterbox.
So there you have it, a dog with two medals. We’re not trying to be a-holes, but you as a human being, how many have you ever gotten in your life? grin grin
[1st picture below: a picture of what the Blue Cross medal looks like.]
[2nd picture below: a picture of Juliana found in the said house clearance.]
Photo Credits: BBC