Military Dog Who Lost Her Leg In Afghanistan Awarded highest War Medal For Animals

A military dog who lost her leg in Afghanistan has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Lucca instantly lost her front left leg and suffered severe burns to her chest when an improvised explosive device detonated in 2012.

The 12-year-old German Shepherd had successfully completed more than 400 missions during her six years serving with US Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her skills helped save the lives of “thousands of allied troops”, the US Marines said, with no human casualties during any of her patrols.

A military dog who lost her leg in Afghanistan has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Lucca instantly lost her front left leg and suffered severe burns to her chest when an improvised explosive device detonated in 2012.

The 12-year-old German Shepherd had successfully completed more than 400 missions during her six years serving with US Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her skills helped save the lives of “thousands of allied troops”, the US Marines said, with no human casualties during any of her patrols.

Lucca served six years with the US Marines.Credit: PDSA

Lucca’s owner Chris Willingham with the heroic dog.Credit: Today

Now retired, Lucca, flew in from her home in California with her owner, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, to receive the Dickin Medal in honour of her work at a ceremony in London on Tuesday.

Her handler, Corporal Juan Rodriguez described the moment a “huge explosion” left him fearing the worst for the dog.

“I ran to her and saw her struggling to get up. I picked her up and ran to the shelter of a nearby tree line; applied a tourniquet to her injured leg and called the medics to collect us,” Rodriguez said.