The WWII Heroine Medal Winning Dog Who Saved Lives By Peeing
A Great Dane named Juliana had a knack for saving lives
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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.
The dog leapt to the rescue again in 1944 when the small shop her owners operated caught fire. She alerted them, who were likely sleeping above or in a back room, and they were able to escape before the entire structure was engulfed. Naturally, a second medal was forthcoming shortly thereafter.
Blue Cross medals were typically awarded to horses for their feats of stamina and bravery during World War I. However, the award expanded to include other animals with notable acts of bravery.
Sadly, Juliana met an abbreviated and cruel end in 1946. She was poisoned by an unknown person(s), who slipped a poisonous substance into her owner’s door mail slot. The curious dog consumed it and perished soon after.
The story of Juliana’s multiple acts of bravery might have been lost to history if her second medal and a portrait of her likeness weren’t uncovered in an estate sale and sold for 1,100 pounds in 2013. Attached to the…
