This article is an excellent resource for many people interested in animal training. Here, we will discuss the life of Axel, an Indian Army Dog. He gave his life-saving soldiers during anti-terror operations in J&K. His trainers have been shattered by his loss and have developed deep gratitude for this faithful canine soldier. Rosenbaum shares, "you could almost see an ashen look swept over the dog master when he remembered what had happened." The dog's death moved Axles' trainer and "kept stroking it long after it was gone. "He took three bullets," the dog master said, sitting beside his pet.
When the Indian Army was in hot pursuit of a lone militant in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, they ran low on time. After receiving reports of an ambush on troops, their dog Axel was sent to sniff out the militant's location. By the minute before he succeeded, he had been killed in battle by three shots fired by terrorists.
Officials say that despite Axel being hit around his head with only minutes left before success, he gave his life trying to help save soldiers. They said that without him, they would have most likely lost troops during the operation where a terrorist was eventually killed. He later succumbed to his injuries.
It is the second time an animal has been killed while saving soldiers' lives. In May, a police horse, Raja, was killed while trying to keep officers who violent protesters were attacking during an encounter in Srinagar's Pampore area.
"Axel was dead even before it could be rushed to a vet," an official told News18. The K9 unit is under the Defence Security Corps.
This isn't the first time Axel has been involved in a successful operation like this, as he had made headlines for similar heroics back in 2014 when he sniffed out an ambush along the LoC in the Rajouri district. He was injured during that encounter and later awarded a gallantry medal by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
News18 was the first to report Axel's death in active service as the Army did not want his death to be made public.
Axel has been inducted into the dog unit facility at Baramulla and trained hard with the dog master. Officials said he had done well in some operations in the northern districts. "We had recently taken him to an encounter site in the Tulibal area of Sopore. Two militants were killed during the operation."
"We are thankful to Axel for his exemplary service and sacrifice," said a spokesperson for the 10 Gurkha Battalion. "He was an example for us to follow as we go forward into further challenging operations as he did. He was very courageous."
The dog, believed to be among the Army's best canine soldiers, had a year-long career in the unit and was recruited in 2015. He had been living with his trainers in Baramulla for about a month.
"We are all blessed that he served with us. I cannot even explain what an honor it is to have him as my dog," said the dog trainer, referring to Axel as "my son." "I will miss him every day because I will never replace him." Axel was inducted into the dog unit facility at Baramulla and trained hard with the dog master. Officials said he had done well in some operations in the northern districts. "We had recently taken him to an encounter site in the Tulibal area of Sopore. Two militants were killed during the operation."
"We are thankful to Axel for his exemplary service and sacrifice," said a spokesperson for the 10 Gurkha Battalion. "He was an example for us to follow as we go forward into further challenging operations as he did. He was very courageous."
The dog, believed to be among the Army's best canine soldiers, had a year-long career in the unit and was recruited in 2015.