Between approximately 1700 and 1897, dogs owned by the Great St. Bernard Hospice, a monastery in the St. Bernard's pass in Switzerland, rescued over 2,000 persons lost or trapped in the snow, many who were in Napoleon's army. The most famous canine, Barry, is credited with saving 40 to 100 persons between 1800 and 1812. In one instance, he purportedly brought home a boy who rode Barry like a horse. Barry is currently stuffed and is on display in a museum in Berne. Allegedly, he at one point was rebuilt to resemble a modern St. Bernard, as the breed has changed from the original dogs used 200 years ago.
The dogs often worked in pairs, where one dog would keep the rescuee warm while the other would go back to the monastery and fetch help.
Although an 1820 painting and numerous Warner Brothers cartoons feature St. Bernards with casks of brandy around their necks, the monastery denies that the dogs ever actually carried spirits to the victims in the snow.
Today, the pooches have been replaced by helicopters, and the last official rescue by dog took place in 1955. During the summer, the monastery keeps a few St. Bernards around to pose with casks for tourists and their cameras.
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