6 pets that made history

One could read, spell, use a cash register while one became a war hero. Pets are not just companions, they are more than that and many of them have proved that in the past by making history. Here are some of those pets who saved lives, wooed the audience and even helped in the development of science.

This adorable sheep named Dolly, was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. She was born from a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer on July 5, 1996.

This homing pigeon proved the meaning of her name “dear friend” by saving hundreds of American troops during World War 1. She delivered 12 messages while serving the U.S Army Signal Corps in France with the most crucial one being the message she delivered in 1918. She saved more than 500 men who were trapped without food or ammunition, behind enemy lines. The first two pigeons were shot down but Cher Ami smartly navigated her way to deliver the message which read “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.” She even received the Croix de Guerre medal for her bravery. When she died in 1919, her body was preserved and she can be seen on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

She was a mere cub when she was adopted by a game warden and his wife in Kenya, in 1956. She was cared for and raised at their home and they taught her how to hunt and survive. Eventually when she was released, the owners were surprised to know that she was doing well on her own. She even has a book and the movie Born Free made on her. She became a symbol of wildlife conservation and is often referred to as the perfect example.

In 1925, a diphtheria epidemic was said to set on Nome, Alaska and the problem was that only one serum could save them, which was in Seattle. At the time. They were unable to deliver the medicine by plane and authorities then came up with a team of sled dogs to deliver the antitoxin. The final team was led by a black and white Siberian husky named Balto and we even have a movie based on the episode. He ran through a very life-threatening blizzard the entire night to deliver the serum, not giving up even for a second. When the task was complete. The boy was complimented with just 3 words “Damn fine dog”.

Jim, a variety show horse, was so well trained in the 19th and early 20th century that he was not just seen by almost 10 million Americans but was also written about in some major newspapers. He was trained to spell, tell time, use a cash register, read and he even had telephone skills.

It was in 1994 when a cat helped solve a murder case that shook the residents of Prince Edward Island in Canada. She was the first case when a non-human DNA was used to solve a murder and it is since then that pet DNA has helped solve several crimes.

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