Variety

Lucy, the world's smallest working dog

A Yorkshire Terrier is honoured for her work as a therapy dog.

There is hardly an area that the man's best friend, the ever faithful canine has not gone to in order to serve man in some form or the other. He would even go to the moon, as Laika did or to the battle front if it served a purpose for his human friends. Apart from the usual heroic stories connected with the dogs serving in the forces or the police, many are the stories on record of dogs of various breeds stepping into help the old,differently-abled and the sick.

Dogs don't just roam the streets, get pampered as pets and lead lives that are not beneficial to anyone... There are many dogs who contribute greatly to the welfare of people as working dogs and even become world famous .

Find out how some dogs have served humans even at the cost of their own lives... Today we feature a working dog who may not have heroic stories attached to her name as many service dogs or even some pet dogs do. But, she has served mankind in her own "little " way and is world famous for her size, if not her mite.

Lucy, is a little Yorkshire terrier who is just 5.7inches high and weighs only 2.5lb.Would you believe that she was named by the Guinness Book of World Records last year as the world's smallest working dog?

The little terrier was handed the certificate in recognition of her work as a therapy dog with the elderly and differanty-abled.

Lucy works in a programme called Leashes of Love and visits hospitals, nursing homes and special schools in Smithville, New Jersey.

The title is awarded according to weight - meaning Lucy smashed the previous record held by a six pound search and rescue dog in Japan.

Although the Guinness honour is a big deal for little Lucy, Montufar can't help but worry her dog's fame came at the expense of Momo.

"I didn't want Lucy to unseat him because he's employed by the Japanese police as a search-and-rescue dog," she told the CourierPostOnline. "But she's a different kind of working dog."

Eventhough she weighs less then 12 sausages,Lucy who is four years old now has a huge status among working dogs around the world. 'I said I bet she's not the tiniest,but I'm sure she's the tiniest therapy dog,' said owner Sally Leone Montufar, 56, on her putting forward Lucy for the title.

Despite Lucy being a record breaker, Sally remembered how she came within a whisker of never owning the pipsqueak dog.

'A woman came into the pet boutique I work in with several dogs, hoping someone would claim them before she had to take them to the shelter.'I became fixed focused on the woman's Juicy Couture dog bag, and the little nose poking out of it..

'The bag was very beautiful and out came this peanut.'She was so pitiful and lethargic I couldn't leave her. 'As any mother would, I vowed to help her. I wasn't going to turn my back. The others looked pretty healthy, but she didn't.'

Some famous working dogs

* Brit, a German Shepherd won many awards such as the Apprehension Citation in 1997 from the Saddle River P.B.A., the Unit Citation in 1995 by the Waldwick Police Chief, the Certificate of Recognition in 1994 by the Allendale and Waldwick P.B.A. for burglar apprehension, the Exceptional Duty Award in 1998 by the Allendale and Waldwick P.B.A., and the Support Services Award by the Ho-Ho-Kus P.B.A. On October 6, 1997. "Brit" died and was given a full police funeral. On October 21, 1998, Sgt. Litchult received a posthumous K-9 Service Award for K-9 "Brit" from the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Miami, Florida.

*New Jersey Task Force One -This team received an award for their search and rescue efforts during the WTC disaster. These animals fearlessly searched through burned debris, ignoring burnt paws, cuts and other obstacles to look for survivors and victims. For their unselfish and courageous efforts, the team earned induction into the Animal Hall of Fame.

The team consists of "Ana" - Atlas; "Senta" - Bacalaglu; "Claire" "Blitz" Clemmo; "Chewbacca" Holmes; "Mikey" ; "Osa" LoPresti; "Nutmeg" ; "Sarge" Pittore; "Argus" Rolando; "Quest" - Sullivan; "Piper" Whynman Owners -- Sarah Atlas; Dan Bacalaglu; Lorrie Clemmo; Alice Holmes; Laura Lopresti; Spring ; Pat Pittore; Bob Rolando; Penny Sullivan; Sonny Whynman.

* Kanaka1970-Ontario Provincial Police Canine Team - Kanaka, a black German Shepherd was responsible for numerous rescues and arrests as well as the recovery of evidence, stolen property and money throughout years of distinguished service.

In one incident, Kanaka tracked a lost hunter for 20 hours across freezing swamps and an ice-covered lake, before finding the man. After the ordeal, Kanaka required medical attention and was commended with saving the hunter's life.

* Thunder -(1996)- Following a robbery suspect across a frozen river, the ice gave way and Deputy Stanley Wontor slipped backwards under the ice. He called out "pull" (a command Thunder, a police dog, had not been trained to use) and Thunder pulled him out of the freezing waters to safety.

* Lucky, a Belgian Malinois, was assigned to Fairchild in July 2003 and worked with nine handlers throughout his career. A display in honour of Lucky, a 92nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog, is present during the memorial service held at the Deel Community Center at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., on Jan 5, 2012.

Lucky died of cancer last September at age 10 after surviving five tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Lucky became well known in the media following his survival from two previous bouts of cancer, and he also received a Hometown Heroes award from the American Red Cross in 2010

Fact and pix: Internet.