Sadie (dog) facts for kids
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Labrador Retriever |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 1996 |
| Died | 2019 |
| Nation from |  United Kingdom |
| Notable role | Dogs in warfare / Detection dog |
| Awards | Dickin Medal |
Sadie was a brave black Labrador Retriever dog, born in 1996 and passing away in 2019. She became famous for her amazing sense of smell. Sadie was given the Dickin Medal, which is like the highest award for animals, similar to the Victoria Cross for people. She earned this special medal for finding a dangerous bomb near the United Nations building in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2005. Princess Alexandra presented her with the award on February 6, 2007. Sadie worked closely with her handler, Lance Corporal Karen Yardley, who was with her during this heroic act.
Sadie's Military Service
Sadie was trained in Leicestershire, England, to become a military working dog. She served in several countries, including Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Sadie was part of a special group called the 102 Military Working Dog Support Unit. This unit belonged to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), which is a part of the British Army that cares for and works with animals.
Sadie served for two years and completed two tours of duty, which means she went on two important missions with her handler, Lance Corporal Karen Yardley. After her brave service and receiving the Dickin Medal, Sadie retired from the military. She then went to live a peaceful life with her handler, Karen.
The Dickin Medal: An Animal's Highest Honor
In November 2005, soldiers working with NATO's International Security Assistance Force faced two separate attacks. During one of these dangerous situations, Sadie showed incredible bravery. She used her powerful nose to sniff out a hidden explosive device. What makes this even more amazing is that she detected the bomb through a thick concrete wall!
Sadie's discovery gave bomb experts time to safely remove the device. It was a pressure cooker bomb, which is a dangerous type of bomb made from a pressure cooker filled with explosives like TNT. Because of her quick thinking and excellent sense of smell, Sadie was awarded the Dickin Medal. This medal is given by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) and is known as the animal version of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in the British military.
Sadie's award description said: "Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. At the site of Sadie's indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device. The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury."
Sadie was the 61st animal to receive this important medal. She got her medal from Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra on February 6, 2007. The ceremony took place at the Imperial War Museum in London, England. Marilyn Rydström from the PDSA said that the Dickin Medal is the highest award an animal can get for bravery, and Sadie truly deserved it.
In December 2007, Sadie attended a special event at the PDSA's Ilford Animal Cemetery. This cemetery is where many animals who have received the Dickin Medal are buried. Sadie joined other recent medal winners to honor these brave animals.
See also
- List of Labrador Retrievers
- List of individual dogs
