Kuno: Evaluating a Canine War Hero or Disposable Asset

Heroes or unwitting participants?

Kuno, a British Military Dog, was recently added to a list of those who have been wounded or killed while on duty. He received a PDSA Dickens Medal for bravery and courage as a hero.

Kuno, a 3 year old Belgian Malinois dog, was severely injured in Afghanistan during a military mission in 2019. He sustained his injuries while helping his comrades, who were being pinned down by machine gun and grenade firing. He was sent into a hailstorm of bullets while wearing night vision goggles in order to attack al-Qaeda terrorists.

This sounds like the plot of one of our favorite animated movies where the heroes do great things, especially the part about wearing night vision goggles. Our hero was actually shot, and suffered multiple injuries that led to a partial amputation of both of his legs. The first UK military dog to receive custom prosthetic limbs, he must live with his injuries the rest of his days.

The UK Armed Forces provide excellent care to animals

The UK Defence Secretary said that Kuno changed the mission’s course by saving British soldiers but added that this story demonstrated the great care the UK armed services provide to animals who serve alongside them.

Sending dogs like Kuno down to their deaths is a betrayal to the trust that they form with their handlers.

To be a true hero, you must know what you’re doing. The ability to understand the dangers associated with charging into machine gunfire is not something that dogs possess. We are humanizing them when we call them heroes and give them the power to understand and accept the dangers and risks they face. But this goes against scientific understanding and doctrine.

The dogs will try to comply with any request we make and treat most things as a game. So, following a command despite its intention is an act that shows trust and faith from their side and perhaps betrays our trust.

Do we do them a disservice by awarding them medals

The PDSA may be giving medals to ease our guilt for putting the dogs in danger. Even though it’s a touching gesture, especially when it’s posthumous and shows our animal-loving instincts, the dogs may deserve more.

Thank God, I’ve never been in a similar situation to Kuno and his comrades. But I do hope that they did a lot of soul searching before deciding to sacrifice Kuno for their own. This story shows that dogs are just a ‘kit’ or extra weaponry in such situations, and their welfare or rights are not important. Can we really call these dogs heroes, and glorify acts of enforced bravery when they did not “volunteer” their services? They are at best unintentional.