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    On Veterans Day, it is important to remember soldiers of all kinds — including those on four legs. Animals have been standing beside humans in wars for centuries. While we are used to seeing dogs at work in the military, there are many other critters who have lent a paw through time. Take a look at some of the most unusual animal war heroes. 

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    12. MAIL ON THE FLY: PIGEONS

    Stop calling pigeons "flying rats" and take a moment to reflect on the way these birds have helped our country. From ancient times to WWII, pigeons have been used to relay messages during war. One particular pigeon named Cher Ami saved a battlion of 600 men, flying wounded for 25 miles to the command post. (Pigeon Center)

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    11. CREEPY CRAWLIES: SCORPIONS

    Before the Ancient Romans thought of the Trojan horse, they were sending in scorpions. Fighters would release baskets full of scorpions to scare away intruders. Apparently the plans worked; records show that the enemies usually cleared out soon after the scorpion bomb. (All Empires)

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    10. NOT YOUR AVERAGE RIDE: ELEPHANTS

    Think riding in on a horse is intimidating? You should see an elephant. Many cultures trained elephants for combat. The animals would be used to trample enemies and cause general chaos on the battlefield. It wasn't until the invention of the cannon that elephants retired from war all together. (University of Chicago)

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    9. FIGHTING FLIPPER: DOLPHINS

    A perfect mix of smarts and skills, dolphins are an invaluable asset for the Navy. These loyal animals have been trained to use sonar to detect mines deep in the water. These strong swimmers are so talented they can determine a quarter from a dime while blindfolded. 

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    8. UPGRADE YA: SNAKES

    Snakes first saw the front lines in ancient times when some cultures would throw baskets of venemous serpents onto enemy boats. These animals would easily cause a panic and numerous injuries. Today, the military is working on creating robotic belly crawlers to safely survey enemy areas before sending in troops. (Cnet)

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    7. OPERATION PURR: CATS

    Felines were some of the earliest animals used in war. When fighting the Ancient Egyptians, Persians allegedly released cats on the battlefield knowing how much their enemy revered the animal. In most cases the Egyptians would retreat instead of risk hurting the kitties. The CIA has also attempted to use cats as a way to bug suspects. (Oddee)

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    6. SNEAK ATTACK: BATS

    If bats don't scare you enough, it's time to get a bit more spooked. During World War II, the freaky flyers were almost used as mini bombers. The plan was to equip the bats with small bombs and release them near enemy camps. Once the animals found a cozy place to hang, the explosives would detonate. (The Atlantic)

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    5. TRAINED KILLERS: WHALES

    Orca whales have been trained to be used in warfare. There have been several reports of these whales being tested as means of carrying nuclear weapons, swimming them into enemy territory. (ABC)

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    4. PRIMAL WAR: PRIMATES

    Rumors recently erupted that the Taliban is trying to train monkey to use automatic weapons. While this has not been confirmed, it is not the first time monkeys and war have been mentioned. During ancient Chinese wars, monkeys were sometimes set on fire and sent into enemy territory to cause destruction. (TIME)

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    3. SQUEALING SOLDIERS: PIGS

    Pigs didn't see a lot of battle time, but they did serve an important purpose. The animals were one of the few defenses against elephants. While rumor has it that mice scare the large animals, it turns out a pig's squeal is what really drives them crazy. Swine would be sent out during wars to help occupy some of the attacking elephants. (All Empires)

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    2. A TRUE NAVY SEAL: AND SEA LIONS!

    Seals and sea lions are used by the Navy in the same way that bomb-sniffing dogs are used by other authorities. Thanks to these animals' superior underwater eyesight and swimming skills, seals and sea lions have been trained to detect underwater land mines. (Daily Mail)

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    Next: Amazing Animal War Heroes

    1. SNIFF IT OUT: RATS

    Have you heard? Rats are the new dogs, at least when it comes to land mine detection. Many militaries are beginning to train large rats to sniff out dangerous, abandoned land mines. The leash-trained rodents excel at the job, thanks to their keen sense of smell and resistance to disease. Additionally, this smaller creatures come with a cheaper price tag than trained dogs. (National Geographic)