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Following her recovery from her injury, Lucca was retired. Ten days after the explosion, she was walking again.
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He administered first aid, and Lucca was then airlifted to Germany for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Juan Rodriguez, her handler, thought she had been killed, but was able to rescue her.
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On her last mission in 2012, when she was on patrol in Afghanistan, she sniffed out a 30-pound (13.6-kilogram) IED and was continuing her search when she lost one of her legs when another IED detonated underneath her. The PDSA noted that she protected thousands of human lives as part of her assignments. She was credited with finding ammunition, explosives and insurgents at least 40 times, without a single human fatality under her watch. Specifically, the dog’s record of military service included Afghanistan with more than 400 patrols and three combat tours in Iraq. On her missions, no humans accompanying her were ever injured. She was trained as a specialized search dog, and belonged to an elite group of canines capable of working off-leash at long distances from their handlers in dangerous situations. During that time, she completed more than 400 missions. Marine Corps during her six years of service. She served two tours of duty with the U.S. She was then inducted at Lackland in the United States and brought to the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona for training in an environment similar to Iraq. The Israel Defense Forces brought her to Israel and she trained there for six months with an American team. Lucca also received an unofficial Purple Heart plaque and ribbons from a two-time Marine recipient of the award. Marine Corps dog was awarded this honour. It is considered to be the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, and was the 67th time that the medal has been awarded. On 5 April 2016, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom, awarded Lucca the Dickin Medal. After recovering at Camp Pendleton, Lucca officially retired in 2012 and was adopted by her original handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham. In 2012, while on patrol in Afghanistan, she was injured by an IED blast, necessitating the amputation of her left leg. In her over 400 missions, no human fatalities occurred under her watch. She was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Lucca (born 2003 or 2004, died 2018) was a German Shepherd/ Belgian Malinois service dog who was employed by the United States Marine Corps for 6 years.