"He saved forty people had been killed and forty-first ..."
Barry is the most famous dog-rescuer of all, perhaps even trumping those you have known only from television. His uncanny ability to pick up scents in the frozen cold was legendary. During Barry's 12 year stint as a "rescue worker", he was able to locate, revive and return 40 total people to safety! His heroic exploits earned Barry a monument in Paris as well as the focus of a few novels and short stories.
At some point in the XVI century, a mountain pass was built in the Swiss Alps. Augustinian monks settled there and established a monastery in the name of St. Bernard, the patron saint of hospitality. This, in turn, meant the monks were dedicated to the service of others, namely wayward travelers. Because winters in the Swiss Alps lasted anywhere from 8 to 9 months out of the year, the indigenous weather was not suited to most any living creature, which was reason for its ill reputation as a deathly hollow. Many travelers would succumb to the extreme conditions, but thanks to the efforts of the monks, it was possible to save a few but not all travelers.
At some point in the XVI century, a mountain pass was built in the Swiss Alps. Augustinian monks settled there and established a monastery in the name of St. Bernard, the patron saint of hospitality. This, in turn, meant the monks were dedicated to the service of others, namely wayward travelers. Because winters in the Swiss Alps lasted anywhere from 8 to 9 months out of the year, the indigenous weather was not suited to most any living creature, which was reason for its ill reputation as a deathly hollow. Many travelers would succumb to the extreme conditions, but thanks to the efforts of the monks, it was possible to save a few but not all travelers.
It was until the mid XVII century when the number of victims started to decline significantly. The turning point came about when the monks began to breed giant dogs, which were to serve as rescuers. They would name the breed, "St. Bernard" in honor of their patron saint. Their massive builds and fur-insulated bodies, the St. Bernard breed was ideal for finding people under even thickest layer of snow, which is precisely what they did. These St. Bernard's would go outside the monastery walls and search for people in distress.
Once the dog located a body, they would dig up the person and proceed to warm them up with the their breath and their body heat. Monks would also tie care packages of food rations, a flask of wine (typified by the little barrel around the St. Bernard's neck) and a blanket that was secured to the back of the St. Bernard. Once revived and able, the St. Bernard would use its keen sense of direction to lead the recovered victims back to the monastery. To many, the heroic St. Bernards were the true snow angels. Even today, there is a museum-nursery in the monastery, where people can find about 30 dogs. Each year, the Augustinian monks sell 15-20 puppies for $ 1 thousand each to raise money for operational costs.
Once the dog located a body, they would dig up the person and proceed to warm them up with the their breath and their body heat. Monks would also tie care packages of food rations, a flask of wine (typified by the little barrel around the St. Bernard's neck) and a blanket that was secured to the back of the St. Bernard. Once revived and able, the St. Bernard would use its keen sense of direction to lead the recovered victims back to the monastery. To many, the heroic St. Bernards were the true snow angels. Even today, there is a museum-nursery in the monastery, where people can find about 30 dogs. Each year, the Augustinian monks sell 15-20 puppies for $ 1 thousand each to raise money for operational costs.
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| Monks and a team of St. Bernard's rescue a lost traveler in the Swiss Alps, circa 1955. |
The
most popular and famous of the St. Bernard dogs living at the monastery was Barry. He had exceptional
flair as well as instincts and always felt the approach of a blizzard almost an
hour before it started. Barry also had a near sixth sense when it came to sensing oncoming danger of avalanches. At the first signs of haze
or snow flurries, Barry would become restless and would head straight to the mountains, where he would search tirelessly for people in distress.
One day, Barry sensed humans in the deep cleft so he began to make his way to them. An avalanche had dropped into the abyss trapping a mother and her child. When the woman saw Barry, she immediately covered her child with the blanket from Barry's back and him secured the child to a rope attached to Barry. Barry safely brought the child to the monastery and saved his life.
One day, Barry sensed humans in the deep cleft so he began to make his way to them. An avalanche had dropped into the abyss trapping a mother and her child. When the woman saw Barry, she immediately covered her child with the blanket from Barry's back and him secured the child to a rope attached to Barry. Barry safely brought the child to the monastery and saved his life.
Throughout his illustrious career as a rescue dog, Barry
rescued 40 people. The 41st would prove to be fatal for him however. In 1812, Barry, once again successfully found and dug up a frozen man, whom he proceeded to resuscitate with his body heat and breath. When the man started to come to, he opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was this grizzled, snow-covered face. Terrified, the man thought Barry was a bear and stabbed him with a knife.
Badly
wounded, Barry barely managed to make it back to the monastery. The monks whisked Barry away to an animal hospital in nearby Bern to attend to his wounds.
Barry would survive, but due to injury, sickness and old
age he would not return to work. In 1814, he was gone. The
scarecrow of Barry still stands in the Swiss Museum of Natural History in Bern. There
is also a monument in Paris. A statue of Barry sits high atop a pedestal with a little girl sitting on his back. At the base of the statue, an inscription reads,
"He
saved forty people had been killed and forty-first ..."
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