Military Dolphins

Considered highly intelligent, dolphins have been enlisted by the military to perform various tasks, most notably detecting underwater mines. With their advanced sonar-like system, dolphins can easily detect mines in murky waters or at great depths. In the United States, training is carried out by the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, which also uses sea lions. While some have speculated that the animals are also trained for more nefarious missions, the U.S. Navy states that they are not taught to harm or injure.

Ratting Out Land Mines

A three-foot rat would frighten most, but the Gambian pouched rat (also known as African giant pouched rat) is much in demand as a land mine detector in Africa and Asia, where underground explosives kill or maim thousands of people each year. Land mine detection is slow-going for humans, but these rats can cover more ground, and, because they’re relatively small, there’s no worry that they will set off a land mine. It takes about nine months to train the rats, and, like all workers, they get paid for a job well done—with food, often bananas.

Dogs on the Job

Dogs’ impeccable sense of smell is well known, making canines ideal for locating bombs and drugs. However, they are also able to smell cancer, low blood sugar, and even depression. In addition, dogs are sometimes employed to alert their owners to upcoming epileptic seizures, though researchers are uncertain if seizure dogs are responding to smells or subtle behavioral changes. Regardless of how they are able to do it, dogs prove that they really are man’s best friend.

Canary in a Coal Mine

Coal mines have long been dangerous places. Mine collapses are common, and carbon monoxide is a silent killer. In the early 20th century, John Scott Haldane noted that the toxic gas was often the cause of miners’ deaths, and he offered a simple solution: canaries. These tiny birds show the effects of carbon monoxide early enough that miners have time to reach safety. The practice of carrying canaries into coal mines continued into the 1980s.

Horsing Around

Although dogs might be better known as guide animals, miniature horses are gaining popularity in this field. In fact, in 2011 the Americans with Disabilities Act was revised to approve them as service animals. Why? Not only do miniature horses possess a natural ability to guide, they have a calm nature and are not easily distracted. They are also perfect for those humans who are allergic to dogs. Miniature horses can live more than 50 years, whereas service dogs are often retired after age 10.

Monkey Business

For people with mobility impairments, especially ones due to spinal-cord injuries, monkeys can offer a helping hand. These animals can be trained to perform a variety of daily tasks—turning appliances on and off, picking up dropped items, dialing the phone, and even scratching an itch. Typically, only capuchin moneys are used, and the training generally lasts three to five years. Although this might seem like a long time, the animals can live for 30 to 40 years, meaning that most people will need only one or two in their lifetime.

Chief Mouser

The British prime minister’s residence, 10 Downing Street, needs more than just security guards to keep it safe. In order to protect the building from mice and other rodents, a cat is appointed Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Although the title has only recently become official, British officials have long kept cats in this capacity, with the first mouser dating back to the 1500s, during the reign of Henry VIII. As of 2015, a cat named Larry held the title.