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Canine Hero

Aired December 09, 2003 - 15:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And now the wise can say that the wars of England were won in the kennels of Eaton.
Philip Reay-Smith reports from London on the honors bestowed on a canine hero.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIP REAY-SMITH, ITV REPORTER (voice-over): He got the medal for working like a dog in Iraq, though he was sleeping like a log during the ceremony to award him with the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross this evening.

He'd had a busy day of media attention because of the honor, but he perked up for the photo call. The medal was given for his bravery and devotion to duty in Iraq. This was just an exercise. But during a real operation in March, he discovered a cache of weapons and bomb- making equipment hidden by Iraqi resistance in southern town of Safwan. The find is thought to have saved the lives of countless civilians and troops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good fellow.

SGT. DANNY MORGAN, BRITISH ROYAL ARMY: Once he had the weapons, found the weapons and the explosives and removed them from the street, the people became a lot more friendly towards us, so friendly, in fact, that we could actually dispense of the hard hats and we could start patrolling in berets.

REAY-SMITH: For Sergeant Morgan, the award comes just two weeks after he was reunited with his dog. Buster had to spend six months in quarantine on his return from Iraq.

The 6-year-old springer spaniel is only the 24th dog to receive the medal issued by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals since the Second World War.

(on camera): Sergeant Morgan says Buster sees his life-saving work, sniffing out guns and explosives, as nothing more than one big game. So I suppose it's appropriate that he is celebrating today's award simply by getting back into training, ready for his section assignment.

Philip Reay-Smith, ITV News, with Buster, the springer spaniel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 9, 2003 - 15:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And now the wise can say that the wars of England were won in the kennels of Eaton.
Philip Reay-Smith reports from London on the honors bestowed on a canine hero.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIP REAY-SMITH, ITV REPORTER (voice-over): He got the medal for working like a dog in Iraq, though he was sleeping like a log during the ceremony to award him with the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross this evening.

He'd had a busy day of media attention because of the honor, but he perked up for the photo call. The medal was given for his bravery and devotion to duty in Iraq. This was just an exercise. But during a real operation in March, he discovered a cache of weapons and bomb- making equipment hidden by Iraqi resistance in southern town of Safwan. The find is thought to have saved the lives of countless civilians and troops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good fellow.

SGT. DANNY MORGAN, BRITISH ROYAL ARMY: Once he had the weapons, found the weapons and the explosives and removed them from the street, the people became a lot more friendly towards us, so friendly, in fact, that we could actually dispense of the hard hats and we could start patrolling in berets.

REAY-SMITH: For Sergeant Morgan, the award comes just two weeks after he was reunited with his dog. Buster had to spend six months in quarantine on his return from Iraq.

The 6-year-old springer spaniel is only the 24th dog to receive the medal issued by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals since the Second World War.

(on camera): Sergeant Morgan says Buster sees his life-saving work, sniffing out guns and explosives, as nothing more than one big game. So I suppose it's appropriate that he is celebrating today's award simply by getting back into training, ready for his section assignment.

Philip Reay-Smith, ITV News, with Buster, the springer spaniel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com