Military

Marine Dog Wounded In Combat Receives Rare Honor [VIDEO]

Lucca (Credit: Screenshot/Youtube Marko Getze)

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
Font Size:

Marine service dog Lucca is receiving the highest honor for service animals after losing a leg in an IED attack.

Lucca and her former handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, who now owns her, traveled from California to England to accept the PDSA Dicken Award, according to Daily Mail.

The hero dog, a German Shepherd, was on a patrol in 2012 when she stepped on an IED while sniffing out bombs in Afghanistan. The blast instantly took off one of her front legs and caused severe burns to her chest. After her surgery, Lucca was back up and walking in ten days.

Lucca retired with an impeccable war record, sniffing out thousands of IEDs. No Marines were ever killed on her watch.

“Lucca is very intelligent, loyal and had an amazing drive for work as a search dog,” Willingham said.

She is the first Marine dog to ever earn the prestigious honor.

WATCH:

Follow David on Twitter and Facebook