Dickin Medal For French Police Dog

Diesel, the seven-year-old Belgian Shepherd who was killed in a raid after the Paris attacks, is being honoured with a top bravery medal.

00:00 28 December 2015

Diesel, a French police dog who died during an operation targeting the suspected organiser of deadly Paris attacks, is being honoured with a PDSA Dickin Medal - the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

 

Diesel was shot multiple times during a raid on a Paris flat where he was sent in to check if the area was clear. His handler, who was not named for security reasons, said: "He did a tour of the first room, then he went into the second room and dashed forward.”

 

"I think he'd found someone. Then I lost sight of him and the gunfire started again.

 

"I had absolute confidence in him, and him in me. Both of us knew how the other would behave in the situation."

 

Meanwhile, PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin, said: "When news emerged of Diesel's death there was a huge outpouring of grief.”

 

"We were inundated by messages from members of the public to recognise his heroism."

 

Dickin Medals, which was introduced in 1943, has been so far awarded to 30 dogs, 32 World War Two messenger pigeons, three horses, and one cat.