Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, even on four furry legs. More people are acknowledging that dogs — especially trained German Shepherds — have become the best guard dogs for different situations, whether they are used by law enforcement or for home protection. These dogs put their lives on the line to keep their owners and neighbors safe from all types of harm. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are some stories of heroic German Shepherds and their great deeds.
Camouflage Can’t Help Burglars Hide from the Keen Nose of a Police K-9
One burglar in Hillsboro, Oregon thought that the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals was the perfect place to make some quick money by perhaps stealing the gold nuggets there. Dressing up in a camouflage suit, he lay down on the ground and planned his entry in October of 2010.
What he hadn’t reckoned on was the Beaverton K-9 team that was called to the scene after museum equipment detected activity on the premises. When the dog got up close to the camouflaged burglar, it smelled the man on the ground. The burglar then spooked the dog, which bit at the camouflage suit, causing the burglar to cry out and police to find his hiding spot.
Even Retired Police Dogs Are Forces to Be Reckoned With
Two burglars found out this fact the hard way in the neighborhood of Lilburn, Georgia in December 2011. After staking out a house to break into, they hopped over several fences to get toward the backyard. Unfortunately, one backyard was the home of retired Atlanta police dog, Zeus — a 111-pound German Shepherd that didn’t like when people crossed him. The burglars beat a quick retreat back over the fence and were later caught by police.
German Shepherds Are Everyday Heroes in Other Situations
German Shepherds have also shown heroic deeds when saving their owners’ lives.
- In March 2014, a German Shepherd pulled his sleeping owner by the arm out of the bedroom and into the kitchen when a wall heater malfunctioned to send dangerous levels of carbon monoxide through the house.
- In Pennsylvania, a 15-month-old German Shepherd alerted her sleeping owner that the mobile home was on fire by barking obsessively on one early November 2013 day. The home was completely destroyed but everyone got out safely.
- In May 2012, a German Shepherd saved his owner, who was prone to seizures. When the owner fell down the stairs after a seizure episode, the dog ran outside and circled the Los Angeles neighborhood until spotting an animal control officer. The dog ran to the truck, jumped inside and shook his head to show he had dog tags. The animal control officer saw the German Shepherd was a seizure dog and raced to help the owner.
Throughout the years, trained German Shepherds have made wonderful companions and the best guard dogs for people across the country. There is no doubt from these stories that they truly are heroes when placed in dangerous situations.
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