Military Dog Wounded in Afghanistan to Ride in Rose Parade (Video)

A roadside bomb took one of Lucca's legs, but not her spunk. 

Eleven months after a roadside bomb exploded in Afghanistan and severed Lucca's left front leg, the military service dog will ride in the Rose Parade atop the Natural Balance float, Canines with Courage. She'll ride alongside Tillman, the world's fastest skateboarding bulldog. Tillman was recently inducted as an Honorary Marine as part of his work with the United States Military Working Dogs National Monument, according to a press release from Anne Leverdier of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.

Canines with Courage will showcase an exact replica of the first-ever United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument, and honor the four-legged heroes and their handlers for their services and sacrifices saving American lives since World War II.

Lucca, who saved a platoon of U.S. Marines during that March explosion, served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Out of the three combat deployments she led, none resulted in injuries to the troops.

Facts about the Canines with Courage Float:

• The float will be lead by military working dog teams and their handlers.
• The float will measure 55-feet long and 28-feet high, and be enabled to “fold” from a height of 28-feet down to 16-feet in order to pass underneath highway bridges and low wires along the parade route.
• The float will feature an exact replica of the United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument made from golden clover seeds and crushed white sweet rice.
• The replicated monument will be surrounded by more than 35,000 roses, America’s national flower.

Natural Balance has also donated 400 Rose Parade grandstand tickets to locally assigned military personnel so they can be in attendance and enjoy the parade, Leverdier said.

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