Lifesaving French navy commando dog receives highest honour for animals

A French Navy Commando dog has been posthumously awarded the highest honour available for animals.

Leuk, a Belgian Malinois who earned the nickname Lucky Leuk for his extraordinary abilities, was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for his lifesaving actions while on duty.

The honour comes after he saved the lives of his comrades many times while on operation in Mali after being deployed in March 2019.

And during one of those incidents Leuk saved his handler from two armed insurgents a short distance from their unit.

Leuk's handler, Petty Officer Forest, Kieffer Commando, said Leuk "relentlessly attacked the enemy who was armed [and] who tried to kill him and who failed".

He added: "Thanks to that, I can talk to you today. And there are no words to thank him."

Jan McLoughlin, PDSA Director General, said Leuk was "clearly an integral part of the team", after joining the canine division in 2015 before he was paired with his handler in 2017.

"Leuk was an exceptional dog, he was trained in extraction and insertion techniques, tracing weapons, sniffing out IEDs and in attack," she said.

Ms McLoughlin added this meant Luke was sometimes "airdropped" in on missions and was also involved in "combat swimming".

Leuk was killed in May 2019 on a counter-terrorism operation in Mali after he exposed an enemy insurgent.

Commander Nicolas, Kieffer Commando Leader, said: "It's very scarce to be able to have such a good dog.

"[He] was just exceptional and we suffer his loss a lot,” he said.

Leuk's body was repatriated, with his comrades forming a guard of honor, while his death also inspired a memorial to fallen military working dogs in France.

Petty Officer Forest said the Dickin Medal award for Leuk sends an important message.

"For me, this medal represents a culmination of achievement and, above all, a strong message for dogs, specifically who work in the service of men," he said.

"Do not forget them and, above all, to convey the message that their action is not in vain.

"And we must never forget that a dog is a man's best friend and, for me, it's the most beautiful reward you can give, honouring them as if they were equal to the combatants," he added.

Leuk joins an illustrious roll of honour as the 73rd recipient of the Dickin Medal.