One of the many books chronicling heroic behaviour of dogs.

Rebecca Chenowet

Dog heroes come in all shapes and sizes, from noble purebreds to lovable mutts. Dogs have long fascintated us with their loyalty, devotion, and compassion.  Anyone can recognize the goofy good nature of a dog from his wagging tail and laughing grin, but few people are aware that dogs will unhesitatingly put their lives on the line for their humans and even for their fellow animals, without a thought for their own safety.  

Dogs are recognized by various organizations for acts of heroism, but sometimes unknown dogs captured on video will touch hearts deeply and forever.  Such is the case with an unnamed dog hero in Japan, following the devastating tsunami of 2011. Reporters on the scene covering the tsunami's damage were captivated by the sight of a dog, shivering and terrified next to a piece of rubble.  They focused their cameras on the dog and captured a sight that spoke to everyone around the world. The dog, terrified and injured, was sitting loyally next to another dog, lying motionless on the ground.  The sight of the dog next to his dead companion moved the reporters, and they attempted to rescue the exhausted dog.  The dog absolutely refused to move, and that is when they noticed the dog on the ground move; he was alive after all.  How long the dogs had been there is anyone's guess; the dogs were rescued and both were saved.

Above: Watch this touching video of a heroic dog rescuing another dog who was struck by several cars on a freeway. The dog drags the injured mate across lanes of fast traffic, barely making it across alive, pulling his friend to safety!

When a dog on a crowded highway was struck by a car in New York, another unnamed and unknown dog hero dashed unthinkingly to his rescue.  Moving video clips show the heroic canine racing onto the road and grasping the injured dog with his teeth, then dragging the dog to safety.  A highway worker witnessed the scene and was able to rescue both dogs.
In Modesto, California, Emma the service dog went against her basic training to save her owner's life.  While crossing a movie theater parking lot, a pickup truck struck both Emma and her wheelchair dependant owner.  Emma's basic training was to never leave her owner's side, but this day Emma broke free and ran to the side of the theater, managing to get inside.  Once inside, she found her owner's wife in the crowd and brought her out to her husband's side as he lay injured in his mangled wheelchair.
The story of Hero, the puppy brought home from Samarra, Iraq in honor of her soldier rescuer captivated the world around Thankgsgiving.  Justin Rollins was a soldier from New Hampshire, killed in action.  Pictures he had sent home touched the hearts of his grieving family—pictures showing the big soldier cradling a tiny puppy.  After his death, his family pleaded that the puppy be found and sent to them. Rollins' unit complied, found the puppy, and sent her on a round-the-world trip, straight into the hearts of a grieving family.  
The dog who captured the world's heart the most this year was Hawkeye, belonging to Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, Navy Seal killed in action.  No one who saw the stirring video and pictures will ever be able to forget the sight of the dog, lying motionless by Officer Tumilson's flag draped casket for hours, his heartbreak obvious to anyone who saw him.
Military dog heroes are nothing new, but this year there has been renewed interest in these canine soldiers with the reports of Cairo, a Navy SEALS dog who was an important part in the capture and death of Osama bin Laden.  While the records are classified, it seems that his role was to guard against any escape attempts by the occupants of the compound and keep the soldiers aware of anyone's approach.  He and his handler were lowered from a helicopter into the heart of the action. In response to his heroism, MWD Adoptions, a non-profit organization that rehomes retired and injured military dogs, has seen an increase in interest in the adoption of these heroes.
Any dog can go from zero to hero in the blink of an eye.  These lesser-known and sometimes unnamed dog heroes are as deserving of recognition for their loyalty and devotion as are their more famous counterparts; just ordinary dogs doing extraordinary things.