The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals
On Thursday 30 January 2020, The Lord Mayor Councillor Jackie Barnes and Consort Steve Copner attended the opening of the PDSA Dickin Medal 75th Anniversary exhibition in the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Hanley.
This interactive exhibition, Extraordinary Animals in Action, is to commemorate the recipients of the PDSA Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. The founder of the PDSA, Maria Dickin CBE, introduced the PDSA Dickin Medal on 2 December 1943, at the height of World War II.
With the Lord Mayor is recipient DM69, Mali, who earned his award on a mission in Afghanistan.
Truly man’s best friend
His handler for the mission, who remains anonymous for security reasons, referred to Mali as the unit’s ‘Guardian Angel’ who didn’t do just a job but lifted everyone’s morale, day in, day out. He further said ‘I feel very proud and humbled that Mali is receiving the PDSA Dickin Medal. You can have all the satellites, all the radios on your back, but at the end of the day the one thing that gives guys the confidence to go out and fight is ‘Man’s best friend – the Military Working Dog’’.
(Credit: PDSA)