Saint Bernard : mountain rescuer
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references, glossary, websites and index.

Saint Bernard dogs love to help people. In Switzerland they were used to pull heavy dairy carts and worked as guard dogs for farmers. In the 1600s they began working with the Swiss Alps monks who, after an avalanche, sent the dogs out to look for people who were trapped. If the dogs found a person buried under the snow, they would dig the traveler out with their massive paws, then one dog would lie on top of the person to keep him or her warm. The other dogs would race back to the hospice run by the monks to get help. In over 200 years, the Saint Bernards saved more than 2,000 people. They also make great family pets as they are sweet and affectionate and are very tolerant with children.