Perhaps the most striking dog in the Home was Leon, a wonderful mastiff,
who towered head and shoulders above his companions and was really
majestic when strolling around the grounds. He seemed to realize that he
occupied a position just a few points above the ordinary dog, and his
associates seemed to think the same. Leon was a Red Cross dog, and his
work during the war was wholly in the line of Red Cross work. He had
been awarded the War Cross Star for his work in this capacity.
He is possessed of what is known as a “glass eye,” frequently seen in
the horse, but rarely found in other animals. One eye is the ordinary
brown color, while the other is a light blue color, together producing a
very striking effect.
Only dogs of more than ordinary intelligence are fitted for the varied
branches of Red Cross work. Not only are they required to carry first
relief to the wounded, but also to report back to headquarters, bringing
with them evidences of wounded soldiers in distress. When they found a
soldier who was unconscious, they were taught to bring back some article
of the wearing apparel of the man as evidence of his discovery.
Sometimes it would be a handkerchief or his helmet, or in cases where
these could not be obtained, the dog has been known to gnaw off a button
from the unconscious man’s coat and offer this in evidence of his find.
Bursting shells and whistling bullets were wholly ignored by these
animal heroes as they went about their mission.
The following story was told me by Mrs. Rose Chilton, a Red Cross nurse
from New Orleans, La., which illustrates the surprising intelligence and
sagacity of these dogs. “All day long a destructive battle had raged and
our boys had suffered severely from the raining shot. Leon was busy here
and there with his kit bag stored with first aid supplies. Frequently he
had returned to headquarters for fresh supplies, or to bring back some
token of a wounded man in distress. Late in the night he returned
carrying in his mouth a soiled photograph. The picture showed a splendid
young man in khaki. On either knee he held a lovely, smiling child, the
younger about two years of age, the elder four, while at his side sat a
sweet faced woman, with one hand resting lovingly on the boy soldier’s
shoulder. These three represented the sacrifice the boy had made when he
enlisted in a cause to make his home sacred and safe for all time to
come. A searching party was at once despatched to bring back the wounded
soldier. Leon, with unerring instinct, led the way and shortly brought
the rescuing party to the object of their search. The boy had been
severely wounded in the head, and was in an unconscious condition. He
had evidently wandered some distance from the point where the accident
had happened, as he was without a helmet and his uniform was soiled by
mud and earth. Leon, finding no ready token for his identification, had
torn open his blouse and from an inner pocket extracted the identifying
photograph. Everything was done for the sorely wounded boy, but a few
hours later his spirit took its flight to the unknown shores beyond. Out
in the State of Illinois a widowed wife and two fatherless children
mourn the loss of husband and father.”
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[Illustration: Wolf, Police Dog.]