When it comes to being “man’s best friend,” dogs are so much more than that. Besides the role that most of us know them for as loving animal companions, there are also scores of dogs all over the world who hold down jobs that most of us could never even imagine. Whether it’s serving as a police search dog or being a military dog, these intelligent beasts are indispensable and more than earn their keep. A beautiful Belgian Malinois named Kuno is one such dog. Recently, he was recognized for his heroic actions when he served as a Military Working Dog in the U.K. armed forces.
Kuno was recently awarded the Dickin Medal for his service in the military by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, also known as PDSA. This medal is the highest award the British military awards any dog, and the award is recognized all over the world as the “Victoria’s Cross” for animals who serve with devotion to duty and acts of bravery. In 2019, Kuno was working with his handler in Afghanistan to help find hidden weapons, detect explosives, and incapacitate the enemy. During that tour, Kuno took part in 16 operations and served for five months. Unfortunately, he was taken down in May of 2019.
Retired Military Working Dog Kuno has been awarded our #PDSADickinMedal for his bravery supporting British Forces đď¸ Kuno was deployed in support of specialist UK & host nation forces on a compound raid when they came under attack. Read his amazing story: https://t.co/ky294PdiNe pic.twitter.com/5yCW2sl19Y
— PDSA (@PDSA_HQ) November 24, 2020
When he got off of the helicopter, Kuno ked his team through a compound to find weapons and explosives that were hidden along the way. After he cleared one area, the team was pinned down by an attacker. At that point, Kuno was released by his handler to go take down the insurgent. When the dog raced towards the enemy, bullets in a counterattack struck him in his hind legs. Even though he was injured, Kuno still managed to incapacitate the enemy and allow his team to safely advance. Without him, the operation would have ended much differently. 
Unfortunately, Kuno’s injuries were so severe that one of his hind feet had to be amputated. With surgery, his life was saved, but he had to go through months of therapy to learn to walk with his new paw. Kuno is the first British Military Working Dog ever to receive a prosthetic leg. As of now, he’s retired from the military with honor and enjoying his life in a new home. Watch the video below to see his story.
