Perhaps the most striking dog in the Home was Leon, a wonderful mastiff, who towered head and shoulders above his companions and was really majestic when strolling around the grounds. He seemed to realize that he occupied a position just a few points above the ordinary dog, and his associates seemed to think the same. Leon was a Red Cross dog, and his work during the war was wholly in the line of Red Cross work. He had been awarded the War Cross Star for his work in this capacity. Only dogs of more than ordinary intelligence are fitted for the varied branches of Red Cross work. Not only are they required to carry first relief to the wounded, but also to report back to headquarters, bringing with them evidences of wounded soldiers in distress. When they found a soldier who was unconscious, they were taught to bring back some article of the wearing apparel of the man as evidence of his discovery. Sometimes it would be a handkerchief or his helmet, or in cases where these could not be obtained, the dog has been known to gnaw off a button from the unconscious man’s coat and offer this in evidence of his find. Bursting shells and whistling bullets were wholly ignored by these animal heroes as they went about their mission. The following story was told me by Mrs. Rose Chilton, a Red Cross nurse from New Orleans, La., which illustrates the surprising intelligence and sagacity of these dogs. “All day long a destructive battle had raged and our boys had suffered severely from the raining shot. Leon was busy here and there with his kit bag stored with first aid supplies. Frequently he had returned to headquarters for fresh supplies, or to bring back some token of a wounded man in distress. Late in the night he returned carrying in his mouth a soiled photograph. The picture showed a splendid young man in khaki. On either knee he held a lovely, smiling child, the younger about two years of age, the elder four, while at his side sat a sweet faced woman, with one hand resting lovingly on the boy Wolf, Police Dog. |