美國軍犬盧卡獲動物界最高榮譽:迪金勳章

Lucca, a retired US Marine Corps dog, was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal at a ceremony at Wellington Barracks in London on last Tuesday. The award is considered the Animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross and his given out by the veterinary charity, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

上週二，美國一條退休軍犬盧卡在倫敦的威靈頓軍營被授予PDSA(英國人民獸醫所)迪金勳章。這一獎項等同於動物界的“英國維多利亞十字勳章”，並由英國的動物慈善組織PDSA頒發。

The 12-year-old German Shepard completed over 400 separate missions during six years of service. In 2012, Lucca discovered a 30lb improvised explosive device while on patrol, when she started searching for other devices a second exploded. She lost her left leg and suffered severe chest burns but thanks to life saving first aid from her handler, Cpl Juan Rodriguez, she survived and recovered.

這條12歲的德國牧羊犬在六年期間完成了400多次不同的任務。在2012年的一次巡邏中，盧卡發現了一顆重30磅的簡易爆炸裝置，當她開始尋找第二枚時，裝置爆炸了。她失去了左前腿，胸部受到嚴重燒傷，幸運的是，由於訓練員下士朱安·羅德里格斯搶救及時，她活了下來，並很快恢復健康。

None of the soldiers were hurt in the explosion that took Lucca's leg. Cpl Rodriguez said: "Through all of her treatment and despite the pain she was in, her temperament never changed. Her fighting spirit was plain to see and I was so proud of how quickly she recovered."

在那次奪走盧卡的左腿的爆炸中並沒有士兵受傷。羅德里格斯下士說：“經歷了治療且當時十分痛苦，盧卡的脾性沒有任何改變，她還是那麼具備拼搏精神，對於她能這麼快恢復健康，我感到十分自豪。”

Lucca is the 67th animal to be awarded a PDSA Dickin Award and the first US Marine Corps dog. The award, started in 1943 by PDSA founder, Maria Dickin, has been previously awarded to 30 dogs, 32 WWII carrier pigeons, three horses and one cat, named Simon, who was the rat fighting ship's cat on HMS Amethyst.

盧卡是第67個被授予PDSA迪金勳章的動物，此外她還是美國第一海軍陸戰隊獲此殊榮的首隻軍犬。該獎項始於1943年，創始人是瑪麗亞·迪金，目前，已經有33只軍犬、32只二戰信鴿，3匹馬以及1只叫西門的貓（這隻貓是紫石英號事件中的戰鼠英雄）先後被授予該榮譽。

The medal was awarded to Lucca by PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, who said: "Lucca's conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty makes her a hugely deserving recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal. Her ability and determination to seek out arms and explosives preserved human life amid some of the world's fiercest military conflicts."

該勳章由PDSA總幹事揚·麥克洛克林頒發給盧卡，他表示：“盧卡的英勇無畏和忠心赤膽，讓她完全有資格成爲PDSA迪金勳章的獲得者。在世界某些最激烈的軍事衝突中，她搜尋武器、炸彈的能力和決心拯救了許多人類的生命”。

Lucca attended the ceremony with her current owner, Gunnery Sergeant Christopher Willingham. Willingham said: "Lucca is very intelligent, loyal and had an amazing drive for work as a search dog. In addition to her incredible detection capabilities, Lucca was instrumental in increasing morale for the troops we supported."

盧卡同她現在的看護者、槍炮軍士克里斯托弗·威林厄姆一起出席了本次頒獎儀式。威林厄姆說：“盧卡非常聰明，作爲搜救犬，她十分忠誠，並且有着驚人的力量。除了不可思議的偵測能力，盧卡還能提升我們目前所在軍隊的士氣。”