But animals of all shapes and sizes have emerged as heroes, overcoming disaster and adversity to rescue people. Here are just a few of our favourite inspiring tales of animal saviours...
Treo the black Labrador became the latest recipient of the Dickin Medal for his bravery in Afghanistan.
Having twice sniffed out hidden bombs in Helmand province, Treo saved the lives of both soldiers and civilians.
Animal rescuers
Treo
Treo the black Labrador became the latest recipient of the Dickin Medal for his bravery in Afghanistan.
Having twice sniffed out hidden bombs in Helmand province, Treo saved the lives of both soldiers and civilians.
Blue
When three-year-old Victoria Bensch disappeared from her home in Arizona, she faced a night alone in the woods dressed only in T-shirt and trousers.
Thankfully the family dog, Blue, followed her and kept her from dying of exposure by sleeping by her side and keeping her warm.
Trakr
Police dog Trakr became a hero of some note when, along with officer James Symington, he helped to dig through a whopping 30 feet of World Trade Center debris, locating the last human survivor of the attack.
So brave was Trakr that he was cloned to enable other police rescue forces to benefit from his intelligence and bravery.
Winnie
The Keesling family were sleeping when a basement water pump leaked deadly carbon monoxide fumes into their home.
Luckily Winnie the cat sensed something was wrong and proceeded to wake owner Kathy. Both her husband and son were unconscious by the time Kathy called 911.
Firefighters were able to save all three thanks to Winnie's determined meowing.
Roselle
Guide dog Roselle was another heroine of the 9/11 attacks. The golden Labrador Retriever led her owner, Michael Hingson, calmly from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center and through the debris and chaos to safety.
She retired in 2007 and remained a family pet at the Hingson home.
Binti Jua
When a three-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at Brookfield Zoo, Chicago knocking himself unconscious, Binti Jua picked the child up and cradled him, despite carrying her own 17-month-old baby.
The Western Lowland Gorilla later carried the boy to the zookeeper's door and waited patiently for rescuers.
Ten years earlier, in 1986, Jambo the Silverback shot to fame in a similar act of protective kindness.
Dolphins save surfer
In 2007, surfer Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark off Monterey California.
Having suffered serious injuries during three separate attacks, he was rescued by a pod of dolphins that circled him, keeping the shark at bay until he was able to get back on his board and return to shore.
George
Jack Russell terrier George was a small dog with the heart of a lion. In 2007 he saved five children from two snarling pitbull terriers at a carnival in New Zealand.
Making the ultimate sacrifice, brave George did not survive the attack and was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2009.
Tsunami elephant
A young elephant was the hero of a remarkable rescue when the Boxing Day Tsunami hit Phuket in 2004.
Ning Nong, a four-year-old elephant, sensed the danger and carried eight-year-old Amber Owen on his back to the safety of higher ground just as the giant wave hit the beach.
Frisky
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 80-year-old George Mitchell struggled to tread water and was close to giving up.
But he credits nearly blind, schnauzer/poodle cross Frisky with his survival. The dog ran to the edge of the mattress to which he was clinging and gave him renewed hope with his incessant licking.
