Many of us, especially those of us who grew up with TV classics like Lassie, have a soft spot for heroic dogs.
Dogs are everyday heroes in so many ways, from guide dogs to rescue dogs and those that keep us safe by sniffing out explosives and drugs, there are countless 'tails' of man’s best friend standing up and doing amazing things. Sometimes dogs are heroes just by being our companions, loyal and non-judgemental friends we can always rely on when times are 'ruff.'
Here at Bored Panda we have decided to compile a list of just some of those stories, courageous canines that took on situations by the scruff of the neck and emerged victorious. Scroll down below to check them out, and feel free to add your own stories in the comments!
#21 Kabang - A Dog That Lost Half Her Face When She Knocked Over A Motorcycle, Saving Two Children From A Crash

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469points
#22 When Jerry Flanigan Was Attacked By Two Pitbulls, His Pet Dog Katy Mae Got On Top Of Him, Shielding His Neck Area With Her Body. According To The Vet She Could've Died As One Of The Bites Was Next To Her Jugular

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459points
#23 Kitty Was Being Attacked By 2 Coyotes Who Were Shaking Her By Neck And Tail When Pit Bull Jack Dashed In To Fight Them Off

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450points
#24 My Best Friend Turns 12 Today. She's Flown In Helicopters, Saved Me From Dozens Of Bears, And Volunteered As A Therapy Dog At A Local Hospital. She's Definitely Earned A Day Off Today

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445points
#25 University Of Illinois Awarded An Honorary Master's Degree To Hero, A Service Dog Who Attended Each One Of His Owner's Classes

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441points
#26 Dog Named Max Took Three Bullets To Save His Owner When They Were Attacked By Two Armed Robbers

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422points
#27 Rescue Dog Duke Burst Into Woman's Bedroom, Jumped On The Bed And Began Shaking Uncontrollably. She And Her Husband Decided To Check On Their 9-Week-Old Daughter In Her Bassinet And Discovered The Unthinkable: She Wasn’t Breathing. If Duke Hadn’t Been So Scared, Then They Would Have Just Gone To Sleep

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418points
#28 On A Cold Winter Night This Dog Found An Abandoned Baby In A Field. She Carried Her Back To The Pen Where She Kept Her Warm Through The Night

On December 12, 2008 in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, a dog named China was honored with the Shining World Hero Award by Supreme Master Ching Hai, for her brave maternal love. On a frigid winter night China found an abandoned baby girl in a field and carried her back to the pen that held her own newborn pups. Together with her pups China kept the baby warm through the night until her human caretaker heard the cries of the infant and took her to the local hospital for medical attention. The baby was aptly named “Esperanza,” meaning hope, at the hospital.
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416points
#29 Dog Saved Another Dog That Was Buried Alive

Man was walking his dog who began behaving peculiarly, and he noticed the dog buried up to her head. Only her head was visible and it was difficult to see given the amount of earth covering her. She was surrounded by rocks and also she was attached to a large sack filled with gravel (to keep her from escaping). Thanks to a dog and owner who happened to see her head emerging from the ground the buried dog survived
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410points
#30 Dog Named Buster Saved His Owner By Alerting His Wife

"Our Hero Buster came into our lives when my husband started a job that required him to travel. I looked for a puppy and found the best friend ever. Soon after Buster came into our lives my husband became very sick. After multiple hospital stays and surgeries he came home from the hospital. Buster was 10 months. My husband was sleeping downstairs in our living room, he was unable to use the stairs after his operation. Buster and I were sleeping upstairs, we were having a terrible ice storm that night. Buster woke me up barking. That wasn't like him. He's not a barker..I thought he may have heard a snow plow outside, but I realized he wasn't barking at the window, but he was barking at the bedroom doorway. I decided since I was awake I would check on my husband. It was a good thing I did, when we got downstairs my husband was unconscious on the floor. He had gotten up and blacked out. He hit his face on a piece of furniture and cut his face. When I got him to the hospital his blood pressure was 55/30. The doctors said if I hadn't found him when I did he very likely would have stroked out and possibly died...If it wasn't for Buster I never would have gone down to check on my husband, I didn't hear him fall but Buster did..My husband thanks Buster everyday for saving his life."
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399points
#31 Dog Refuses To Leave His Family's Eight Goats; Protects Herd And Baby Deer From California Wildfires

By 11:10 we could see the first of the flames across the valley. By 11:15 they were growing larger and the winds went mad. We had loaded up the dogs and cats, but Odin, our stubborn and fearless Great Pyrenees would not leave the goats.
Even under the best of circumstances it is nearly impossible to separate Odin from the goats after nightfall when he takes over the close watch from his sister Tessa. I made a decision to leave him, and I doubt I could have made him come with us if I tried. We got out with our lives and what was in our pockets.
Cars behind us on Mark West Springs Road were pouring flames out of the windows as they roared down the road. Later that morning when we had outrun the fires I cried, sure that I had sentenced Odie to death, along with our precious family of bottle-raised goats.
Today, we were able to make it back to the smoldering wasteland of our forest. Every structure is in ruins. Trees are still burning.
Yet, eight goats came running to see us and get cuddles and kisses. Dixon has a burn on his back the size of a nickel. Other than that they are perfectly fine. Odin’s fur is burned and his whiskers melted. He is limping on his right leg. And he has adopted several baby deer who huddle around him for safety and water from their trough, which is miraculously intact and full of relatively clean water.
We dropped off several bails of orchard grass and gave them fresh water. Tomorrow we hope to reunite them all with his sister Tessa. I’m sure Odin believes she is perished. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see each other.
Odin has lived up to his namesake. Pray for him and his charges. He is our inspiration. If he can be so fearless in this maelstrom, surely so can we
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393points
#32 Sergeant Stubby Was A World War I Hero Dog Who Saved His Regiment From Surprise Mustard Gas Attacks And Once Caught A German Soldier By The Seat Of His Pants

He served for 18 months and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him. Sgt. Stubby is the subject of an upcoming animated film, scheduled for release in April 2018.
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377points
#33 Roselle, A Labrador Retriever Guide Dog Who Led Her Owner Michael Hingson From The 78th Floor And Away From The Collapsing Buildings

Roselle had led Hingson through the noise, smoke and rubble of the office to descend the stairway. Once on ground level in the middle of the human panic Roselle remained focused as they continued walking away from the chaos.
When they were about two blocks away, Tower 2 began to collapse. To escape the ash and debris, they started running for the subway. Roselle eventually guided Michael to the home of a friend in mid-Manhattan where they stayed until the trains were running again. They were finally able to arrive home in New Jersey after seven that night.
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372points
#34 Mercey Protected His Owner From 4 Male Invaders After They Pushed Their Way Into The Apartment Of A 30-Year-Old Female Victim. The Dog Jumped To Protect Her Owner And Suffered Life Threatening Injuries In The Attack With A Machete

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358points
#35 This Pretty Lady Chased Off A Bear For Me And My Cat Tonight. Meet My Hero Abigail

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354points
#36 Faith, A 4-Year-Old Dog Called 911 When Its Human Leana Had A Seizure And Fell Out Of Her Wheelchair. Faith Is Trained To Summon Help By Pushing A Speed-Dial Button On The Phone With Her Nose

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354points
#37 Erick Robertson Pets Porkchop, A One-Year-Old Search And Rescue Dog, As He Receives Fluids Intravenously To Treat Dehydration From Days Of Work At Ground Zero After 9/11 Attacks

344points
#38 K-9 Officer Kasper Was Shot Protecting His Partner

On Monday, May 12, 2017, deputies investigated an officer involved shooting in Jupiter. The subject was a suspect in a robbery and he opened fire on the deputies as they attempted to apprehend him. K9 Casper, a bomb detection and patrol dog, was on scene and was struck during the exchange of gunfire, taking a bullet meant for his handler. Casper was rushed into surgery and has since returned home to continue his recovery.
341points
#39 Cooper The Super Pooper. The Hero Dog Who Saved Me From Drowning And Detected My Heart Attack Before I Knew It

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338points
#40 When A Fox Grabbed A 4 Year Old Angelis And Tried To Drag Her, The Family Dogs, Callie And Abby, Were Quick To React And Chase Away The Wild Animal, Saving Their Little Owner

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335points

