Not every hero wears a cape. Some have wagging tails and are covered in fur. Military K9 Kuno went above and above the call of duty, putting his own life on the line to rescue the lives of soldiers. With a brace and a prosthetic limb, the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois is now retired, but he has never felt more alive.
Kuno went above and above the call of duty, and his efforts were not ignored. Kuno has been given the Dickin Medal, the highest award in the British military, after surviving extensive clinical surgeries. For his hard work and commitment, he deserves it more than anybody else.
Kuno completed numerous successful missions, but his final one will forever be remembered. During a raid on an al-Qaeda base, he backed up British forces. But, the soldiers were quickly surrounded by strongly armed men using machine guns and grenades. When Kuno realized his people were trapped, he did the only thing he could to save them.
“Pinned down by an insurgent’s grenade and machine-gun fire, the assault force was unable to move without taking losses.” “Without hesitation, Kuno raced through a hail of bullets to tackle the shooter, breaking the deadlock and directing the attack, allowing the operation to be successfully completed,” wrote Maj. Sherrain Reber.
Kuno was able to save his side’s soldiers, but he was severely injured in the process. His back legs were riddled by bullet wounds. As a result, he was taken to the United States Army Veterinary Treatment Facility for immediate treatment. They were able to save his life, but one of his back paws had to be amputated in the process.
Kuno now wears a brace on one of his back legs and a prosthetic limb on the other. He was the first Military Working Dog in the United Kingdom to get a custom-fitted prosthetic leg. After his injuries, he retired as well, but he has since been adopted by a loving family. He now has the opportunity to live a dog’s normal life, which includes limitless love and fun.
Kuno was also given the Dickin Medal by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals for his bravery (PDSA). Since the award’s debut in 1943, he is the 72nd animal to receive it. 35 dogs, 32 WW2 messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat are among the other honorees.
“I am ecstatic that Kuno will be honored with the PDSA Dickin Medal. “It is a tribute to his training, unwavering courage, and commitment to duty, which certainly saved lives that day,” British defense minister Ben Wallace said. “I am really proud of the role our military working dogs play in both domestic and international missions. The story of Kuno reminds us of the extent to which these creatures would go to ensure our safety.”
Congratulations to Kuno! His hard work, sacrifice, and bravery will never be forgotten. Hopefully, he’s thoroughly enjoying his retirement with a family who loves him. After all, he has earned it.