The WWII Heroine Medal Winning Dog Who Saved Lives By Peeing
A Great Dane named Juliana had a knack for saving lives
During times of war, heroes can be found in all shapes and sizes. Such extreme conflict can bring out the best in many. This is especially true of a Great Dane named Juliana, who was the recipient of not one but two Blue Cross medals during World War II. The unwavering pooch heroically saved the lives of people and prevented a building from burning by her quick-thinking, including on one occasion extinguishing a live bomb by peeing on it.
Juliana belonged to a family that owned a shoe shop in England. During the years of horror that was World War II, the country suffered through extensive bombing. This included “The Blitz,” a two-year period (1940–1941) of all-out air assault from Germany.
In 1941, one of the shells being dropped from above went through the roof of Juliana’s owner’s house and didn’t immediately detonate. Whether it was instinct or a case of extreme nerves, the dog miraculously deadened the explosive that would have likely destroyed the entire home and those inside it by peeing on the smoldering payload. If a fire had broken out there’s a good chance it could have spread to neighboring buildings as well. It was this act that gained Juliana her first medal.
