Jet the Rescue Dog and other extraordinary stories of Animals in Wartime.

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       November 8, 2014

 

Author  David Long: Ill: Peter Bailey

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 978-0-571-30492-9
Publisher:         Faber
Release Date:    

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In wartime we tend to focus on the human perspective but behind that there is a different tale to tell; that of the animals that have made such a difference to the outcome for so many, not just over the centuries but in recent time. Presented in a slightly ‘old fashioned’ manner this a little book, chock full of heart-warming stories of the animals who went to war, saving many lives in the process.

Each tale is told of the bravery of the animals involved as they worked tirelessly to find people buried in the rubble of bombed out buildings, working beside modern day soldiers in the war torn Middle East and when the World Trade Centre was destroyed in 2001, the K-9 Dog Unit of 300 dogs was bought into the site to help search for victims of the bombing.

Sometimes they needed emotional support as also the rescue workers. In the caser of Apollo, he showed bravery above and beyond as he continued tirelessly to search even though the flames came up around him from time to time and embers had to be brushed from his coat.

Jet of Iada was a handsome Alsatian with a talent for searching out bombed and burning ruins. In his first year of work he was instrumental in rescuing more than 100 people. The rescue he became famous for was that of finding an elderly lady stranded high on a ledge of a bombed out London hotel. He was so sure there was one more person to rescue that when a ladder was placed up to leaning a wall he tried to climb it in order to get to the lady.

Not be overlooked there is Gustav, the carrier pigeon the first bird to return from the D-Day landing. Gustav travelled with War Correspondent Montague Taylor who had taken four birds with him to this momentous event. Gustav was the best of them as he had already completed four missions successfully. This time he was released from a battleship with his message which turned out to be the first report of what was happening on this critical day in the Normandy Landings; a massive turning point in the Second World War.

There are more and more of these wonderful tales to be read, sadly not all with happy ever after ending, but all portraying the bravery and resilience of those four legged and feather creatures who have also stood shoulder to shoulder when only their unique talents and bravery would do the job required.

Aimed at the younger reader this is really a delightful book that will appeal to all as a wonderful and fitting tribute to the animals who sacrificed to help.