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Are pigeons braver than dogs?

Plus: Prison compensation, cancer survival rates, and the price of high-speed rail

3 May 2014

9:00 AM

3 May 2014

9:00 AM

Animal spirit

A labrador blown up with her handler while sniffing for bombs in Afghanistan in 2008 became the 64th animal to be awarded the PDSA’s Dickin medal for ‘gallantry’ during wartime work.
— Among the total are 29 dogs, yet they are outnumbered by the 32 pigeons who have won the medal, such as Gustav, for bringing home the first message from the Normandy beach landings in 1944.

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