Lex: A Canine Champion of Freedom

In Animal Behavior College’s continuing salute to Canine Champions of Freedom, today we’re highlighting Lex, a bomb-sniffing military German shepherd, who served with CPL. Dustin Jerome Lee in 2007. Lee and Lex worked close together, scouring roads for explosives and sleeping in the same area at night. A rocket explosion in Iraq killed Lee and despite being injured, Lex stayed by Lee’s side on the battlefield. With shrapnel in his leg and whimpering from his own injuries, medics had to pull Lex away from the body of Lee. Months later, Lee’s family lobbied for permission to adopt the dog and succeeded. Years later, Lex died of cancer.