Although each nation has had their own ways of honoring their war heroes for decades ā if not centuries ā extending similar honors to animals in combat is also a time-honored tradition.
In the United Kingdom, animals that show incredible bravery in times of conflict can be eligible for the Dickin Medal, which is essentially the non-human equivalent of the Medal of Honor.
As the BBC reported, this award was first conceived in 1943 and has been given to 72 animals by the time of this writing: 34 dogs, 32 messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat.
And its latest recipient had to undergo a perilous and painful journey to receive the British military's highest honor for animals.