Dog rewarded for accidentally diffusing a WWII bomb while taking a bathroom break

Sometimes, an act of bravery doesn't involve risking your life or putting yourself in any kind of danger. Even the simplest of things, at times, like going with your gut instincts, can help save a life. Animals have mastered their gust instincts and often act after listening to their senses and surroundings. That was the case for Juliana, a Great Dane, that saved the lives of its owners and possibly a few other people during the early 1940s. As per BBC, the pooch diffused a German bomb dropped in her owner's house in the most hilarious manner.

During a house clearance in Bristol, England, a 1941 Blue Cross medal awarded to Juliana was found along with the portrait of the Great Dane. A plaque that described the incident when Juliana diffused the bomb was a part of the artifacts from the clearance that happened in the home of a relative of the dog's owner. This one-of-a-kind bomb incident happened during the Blitz, which, as per Britannica, was a historical German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom during World War 2. A Luftwaffe bomb was dropped on Juliana's owner's home and the four-legged angel was the first to find it. Not sure what the dog's intention was, but she chose to urinate on the deadly bomb and it turned out to be a lifesaver.

Auctioneer Philip Taubenheim, from the Wotton Auction Rooms, Gloucestershire, found this story "remarkable." Taubenheim who auctioned Juliana's medal and portrait said, "This was a Great Dane with a great bladder. Rarely is there such an interesting story behind items we handle." The artifacts revealed that Juliana was awarded a Blue Cross medal not once but twice for saving lives. In 1944, the brave Great Dane alerted her owner about a fire in his shoe shop. Juliana's story became a hit online when u/puranitto posted about her on Reddit. "Now that's a good girl!" commented u/FunkyWeird. "That's the best soldier I've ever seen," wrote u/Citrinitas115.

However, the brave girl had to face a tragic end in 1946. "The poor animal was poisoned," Taubenheim said. "Someone put it through her owner's letterbox and she died." While the Blue Cross medal was reserved for military horses in World War I, it was later extended to other animals that acted in valor. So, Juliana was recognized for not one but two of her brave acts saving her owner's life. As per the auctioneer, Juliana's medal and her portrait sold for more than 18 times the pre-sale estimate of £60 in the auction. 

Speaking of our furry friends being rewarded for their bravery, a viral video of a retired military dog receiving a surprise package for five years of his remarkable service in the US military stands out. Shared by @mwdrex_and_rider, the video shows the German Shepherd, Rider, wagging his tail in excitement on receiving a gift box. The US War Dogs Association, a non-profit that supports retired military dogs, had sent Rider a package containing his service medal along with some exciting toys for him to play with. After years of his ardent service, Rider was starting to experience the normal life of a dog and one could see the joy in his eyes.