France inaugurates first memorial to 'hero' dogs

From tracking down suspects in the 2015 Paris attacks to fighting extremists in Africa's Sahel region, dogs have helped French soldiers, police officers and other rescuers saving lives for more than a century. To show its appreciation, France unveiled its first memorial paying tribute to all "civilian and military hero dogs" on Thursday in Suippes, in the northeast of the country.

The regiment in Suippes prepares dogs for combat zones, where they play a key role in detecting and going after a potential enemy. Some are also trained for detecting explosives and others for narcotic drugs. Military dogs are currently involved in French operations abroad including the Sahel region, West Africa and the Middle East.

They have also been sent on missions on France's mainland and overseas, like combating gold trafficking in French Guiana. The monument in homage to hero dogs is an initiative from the French kennel club, the Centrale Canine, an NGO founded in 1881.