Paris Attacks Hero Dog Diesel To Get Medal
The French police dog killed in a raid to
capture the terrorists who carried out the
attacks in Paris that left 130 dead is to be
awarded the animal equivalent of the
Victoria Cross.
Diesel, whose death
prompted the phrase
Je Suis Chien to go viral on social media, will be
posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal for
bravery and devotion to duty.
The seven-year-old Belgian shepherd dog died
from multiple gunshot wounds on 18
November, five days after the attacks, when he
was sent into a building to find attackers.
His actions will be rewarded with the highest
animal honour by the vet charity PDSA next
year.
Russia gave a German Shepherd puppy to
France to replace Diesel
:: Dickin Medal: Full List Of Awards
PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin said:
"Following the tragic terrorist events in Paris last
month, where many innocent people lost their
lives, Diesel was instrumental in helping the
French police locate and deal with the
perpetrators.
"When news emerged of Diesel's death there
was a huge outpouring of grief. As guardians of
the world's most prestigious animal awards
programme, we were inundated by messages
from members of the public to recognise his
heroism.
"The PDSA Dickin Medal recognises conspicuous
devotion to duty in the theatre of conflict and
Diesel is a truly deserving recipient. His gallant
actions helped to protect human life in the face
of imminent danger and we are very proud to
honour him in this way."
The medal has been awarded to 30 dogs
(including Diesel), 32 Second World War
messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat
since its introduction by PDSA founder Maria
Dickin in 1943.
:: Her Dog Diesel's Replacement Handed To
France
The first recipient was White Vision, a pigeon
who delivered a message that enabled the
rescue of a crew that had ditched in October
1943.
Diesel's handler, who cannot be named for
security reasons, described the dog's final
moments after he was sent in to a flat thought
to have included the attacks
mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud.
Video: Terror Siege Comes To An End
He said: "After a few minutes we decided to
send in the dog to see if the zone was clear.
"He did a tour of the first room, then he went
into the second room and dashed forward. I
think he'd found someone. Then I lost sight of
him and the gunfire started again.
"His role was to open the way for the rest of us.
He uses all his senses to detect if anyone is
present and if he can get to them, to go and bite
them. If not, he stands and barks to indicate
where the person is hiding.
"I had absolute confidence in him, and him in
me. Both of us knew how the other would
behave in the situation."
Earlier this month Russia handed a two-month-
old German Shepherd called Dobrynya to the
French to replace Diesel in a show of solidarity.
capture the terrorists who carried out the
attacks in Paris that left 130 dead is to be
awarded the animal equivalent of the
Victoria Cross.
Diesel, whose death
prompted the phrase
Je Suis Chien to go viral on social media, will be
posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal for
bravery and devotion to duty.
The seven-year-old Belgian shepherd dog died
from multiple gunshot wounds on 18
November, five days after the attacks, when he
was sent into a building to find attackers.
His actions will be rewarded with the highest
animal honour by the vet charity PDSA next
year.
Russia gave a German Shepherd puppy to
France to replace Diesel
:: Dickin Medal: Full List Of Awards
PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin said:
"Following the tragic terrorist events in Paris last
month, where many innocent people lost their
lives, Diesel was instrumental in helping the
French police locate and deal with the
perpetrators.
"When news emerged of Diesel's death there
was a huge outpouring of grief. As guardians of
the world's most prestigious animal awards
programme, we were inundated by messages
from members of the public to recognise his
heroism.
"The PDSA Dickin Medal recognises conspicuous
devotion to duty in the theatre of conflict and
Diesel is a truly deserving recipient. His gallant
actions helped to protect human life in the face
of imminent danger and we are very proud to
honour him in this way."
The medal has been awarded to 30 dogs
(including Diesel), 32 Second World War
messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat
since its introduction by PDSA founder Maria
Dickin in 1943.
:: Her Dog Diesel's Replacement Handed To
France
The first recipient was White Vision, a pigeon
who delivered a message that enabled the
rescue of a crew that had ditched in October
1943.
Diesel's handler, who cannot be named for
security reasons, described the dog's final
moments after he was sent in to a flat thought
to have included the attacks
mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud.
Video: Terror Siege Comes To An End
He said: "After a few minutes we decided to
send in the dog to see if the zone was clear.
"He did a tour of the first room, then he went
into the second room and dashed forward. I
think he'd found someone. Then I lost sight of
him and the gunfire started again.
"His role was to open the way for the rest of us.
He uses all his senses to detect if anyone is
present and if he can get to them, to go and bite
them. If not, he stands and barks to indicate
where the person is hiding.
"I had absolute confidence in him, and him in
me. Both of us knew how the other would
behave in the situation."
Earlier this month Russia handed a two-month-
old German Shepherd called Dobrynya to the
French to replace Diesel in a show of solidarity.
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