12th January 1945 @teampdsa pdsa rescue dog Beauty was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal "For being the pioneer dog in locating buried air-raid victims while serving with a PDSA Rescue Squad."

Beauty, a Wirehaired Terrier, was born on 4 January 1939 and owned by PDSA Superintendent Bill Barnet. Beauty is considered by many to be one of the world’s first ‘Rescue Dogs’.

Born in 1939, Beauty would often accompany Bill as he took part in rescue missions at the height of the London Blitz in the 1940s. Although not an ‘official’ or trained member of the rescue team, during one mission, she began independently digging through the rubble of a bombsite alongside Bill and the other rescuers.

Within a few minutes, the cries of a cat were heard. The rescue team quickly joined in the search and managed to pull the trapped cat from the rubble. Recognising Beauty’s talent, she became a member of the team and took part in multiple Search and Rescue operations as the Blitz progressed.

Beauty was responsible for locating and saving the lives of 63 animals during her service and ended up receiving multiple awards for her bravery and dedication to duty. She was first awarded the PDSA Pioneer Medal, an award historically given exclusively to people, plus a Silver Medal inscribed ‘For services rendered’ by the Deputy Mayor of Hendon.

Beauty died 17th october 1950 and is buried alongside other PDSA Dickin Medal recipients at the PDSAs Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex.

@PDSA_HQ @PDSApressoffice 
#Terrier #searchdog #WWII #militarydog