Dog News I

The United States War Dogs Association

Adopting a four-legged veteran

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 24, 2008 11:00:42 EDT

Benny was declared “excess” by the military and scheduled to be euthanized by January, according to his military medical records.

Today, Benny — a spry German shepherd — is anything but excess to Debbie Kandoll, who found him during a determined search to adopt a retired military working dog.

Even at the advanced dog age of 10, with degenerative bone disease, Benny has become an integral part of the Kandoll family since he was adopted from Langley Air Force Base, Va., on Jan. 4.

Kandoll, the wife of an Air Force Reserve officer currently on active duty, wants to get the word out to other military families and civilians that retired dogs are available for adoption at military working dog facilities across the country, as are some younger dogs who may have washed out of the program.

She has launched a Web site that includes phone numbers for 125 military working dog facilities.

The idea of supporting the troops, said Kandoll, who lives near Goldsboro, N.C., “should apply to all veterans, not just the human ones.”

Kandoll said she thought at first that she could adopt retired dogs only through the Defense Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

“People should check with regional facilities to see what is available,” she said.

As for Benny, he’s thriving and his mobility has improved, she said — partly because he now gets to sleep on comfy pillows instead of concrete.

Although Benny is no longer on military patrols and sniffing for drugs, he is anything but retired. He visits hospitals, including the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Durham, N.C., as a certified therapy dog.

Kandoll and Benny make appearances at local events to raise awareness and encourage more civilians to adopt retired military working dogs.

Last year, 360 retired military working dogs were adopted or transferred to law enforcement agencies, according to officials at the Defense Military Working Dog School, with the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland.

Of those, 103 were transferred to law enforcement agencies, 139 were adopted at Lackland and the remaining dogs were adopted elsewhere, many likely by former military working dog handlers.

Under a law passed in 2000, dogs declared “excess” by the Defense Department can be adopted by law-enforcement agencies, prior military handlers and the general public.

“A lot of people still don’t know they can adopt dogs,” said Ron Aiello, founder of the U.S. War Dogs Association and a former military dog handler in Vietnam. “They don’t know dogs were used in Vietnam and that they are being used now. I’d like to see more veterans adopt military working dogs.”

Aiello said he works closely with Kandoll to provide information to people who want to adopt dogs. Interest has come from a number of Vietnam veteran dog handlers, many of whom had to leave their dogs behind in Vietnam.

He and Kandoll think adopting the dogs can be therapeutic for veterans.

To adopt a military working dog, prospective owners fill out a basic application with questions about their experience with dogs, other pets in the household, yard size, fencing and children in the household, officials said.

Once a match for a prospective adoption is made, an agreement is signed for the transfer of ownership, in which the new owner releases the Defense Department from liability.

The dogs are free, but the new owners must pay all costs, including transportation.

Officials at the Military Working Dog School said they have not had to euthanize any dogs for lack of someone to adopt them. In fact, they’ve had to establish a waiting list because there are not enough dogs to meet the high demand for them in the community and with law-enforcement agencies.

Kandoll’s dream is to build a Web site that connects people to working dogs. “These people at Lackland go above and beyond to place dogs in a home,” she said. “But it’s such an overwhelming job. The problem is that the word hasn’t gotten out that after the handlers and law enforcement, civilians can adopt the dogs.

“That’s why the kennel master had this smile in his voice when I called and asked if he had a dog available for adoption on the afternoon of Nov. 29,” she said.

“He said, ‘Yes, I do. ... His name is Benny, and he’s a great big goofball.’”

Kandoll had checked with Lackland officials earlier in November, but Benny was not in their database of dogs available for adoption, although he had been declared “excess” — ready to be retired — in October.

“If I hadn’t had the military connection, I would not have known how to contact these other facilities,” she said.

She and her husband drove to Langley Air Force Base on Jan. 4 and picked up Benny.

As part of the adoption process, Kandoll received Benny’s military medical records.

She quickly noticed that on Nov. 29, Benny officially had been scheduled for euthanasia in December or January. Nov. 29 was the same day Kandoll had made her 20th phone call — the one that led her to Benny

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Combat dogs get own 'Walter Reed'
Michelle Roberts | The Associated Press
October 26, 2008

SAN ANTONIO - A new $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened last week at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long-overdue facility for advanced medical treatment of combat-injured dogs.

Dogs working for all branches of the military and the Transportation Security Administration are trained at the base to find explosive devices, drugs and land mines. About 2,500 dogs are working with military units.

Like soldiers and Marines in combat, military dogs suffer from war wounds and routine health issues that need to be treated to ensure they can continue working.

Dogs hurt in Iraq or Afghanistan get emergency medical treatment on the battlefield and are flown to Germany for care. If necessary, they'll fly on to San Antonio for more advanced treatment -- much like wounded human personnel.

"We act as the Walter Reed of the veterinary world," said Army Col. Bob Vogelsang, hospital director, referring to the Washington military medical center that treats troops returning severely wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The dogs can usually return to combat areas if they recover at the Military Working Dog Center, he said.

Before the center opened, veterinarians treated and rehabilitated dogs in a cramped building that opened in 1968, when the military trained dogs for work in Vietnam.

The hospital was already overloaded by Sept. 11, 2001, but since then, demand for military working dogs has jumped dramatically. They're so short on dog breeds such as German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and Belgian Malinoises that Lackland officials have begun breeding puppies at the base.

Lackland is training 750 dogs, nearly double the number there before the Sept. 11 attacks, Vogelsang said.

To treat the trainees and injured working dogs, the new hospital has operating rooms, digital radiography, CT scanning equipment, an intensive-care unit, and rehab rooms with an underwater treadmill and exercise balls, among other features. A behavioral specialist has an office near the lobby.

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San Antonio Express-News
October 22, 2008
Warrior Dogs Not Forgotten

By Scott Huddleston, Express-News

After the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, local military officials began talking about ways to fund a new hospital for dogs that help keep the world safe.

Seven years later, Lackland AFB has a 38,000-square-foot hospital with surgical, imaging and therapy rooms and a breeding wing to help meet a growing demand for bomb-sniffing and sentry dogs to protect military bases, airports and other potential targets of terrorism.

On Tuesday, officials of the Army, Air Force and Transportation Security Administration dedicated the new Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital, which opened in July. Staffed with airmen, soldiers and civilians, it serves the more than 800 canines at Lackland, and some of the thousands that patrol sites worldwide.

Aside from diagnostic ultrasound, the new facility has digital radiography, which provides safe, quick imaging, and CT scans, often used for detailed brain scans and back injuries. In the past, veterinarians have taken dogs to Wilford Hall Medical Center for radiography or CT scans.

Since the base now can create three-dimensional scan images and store them electronically, four-legged warriors are practically on equal footing with humans in getting medical care, officials said.

“It's the same process. It's the same technique,” said Army Lt. Col. David Fletcher, a radiologist at the hospital.

While U.S. military dogs have nearly doubled globally since 2001, from about 1,500 to 2,500, dogs working for the TSA in airports and other transportation facilities have increased from about 175 to well over 400. Although Belgian malinois and Dutch and German shepherds often are used, Labrador retrievers also are trained for airport duty. Small breeds, such as beagles and terriers, sometimes sniff out explosives in cramped spaces.

Now, they all have a place to come to at Lackland for top-notch care and therapy.

“We had a Jack Russell terrier brought here from Guam,” Fletcher said.

Hundreds of dogs are working in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army. Those that are wounded typically are treated at a field hospital before being moved to a veterinary site. Dogs suffer the same wounds as humans, such as gunshots and shrapnel.

“If they can make it back here, they can usually go back to the fight,” said Army Col. Bob Vogelsang, director of Military Working Dog Veterinary Services.

Although Lackland has the world's largest training center for military dogs and handlers, its 15,000-square-foot veterinary facility, built in 1968, was old and overcrowded. Retired Army Col. Larry Carpenter said he and others began talking about strategies for a new site after 9-11.

“In November 2001, we were already bursting at the seams. So, how do you order up a new hospital?” Carpenter asked during Tuesday's dedication.

In the end, the services worked with the security administration to build a facility costing more than $15 million.

Inside, visitors saw a German shepherd named Kamilka, in an underwater treadmill, putting in a leisurely half-mile at a relaxed pace in 90-degree water, while recovering from surgery to her back leg.

“They're rehabbing, but to them it's play time,” said Kelley Meyer, a canine rehabilitation practitioner.

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Family to Adopt Slain Marine's Dog

Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee and his German shepherd, Lex, scoured Iraq for roadside bombs together, slept next to each other and even posed in Santa hats for a holiday photo.

When a mortar attack killed the 20-year-old Marine in Fallujah a few months later, Lex, whimpering from his own injuries, had to be pulled away, Lee's father was told.

That strong bond compelled the slain Marine's family to adopt 8-year-old Lex even though the military said he still had two years of service.

The family lobbied the military for months, launched an Internet petition and enlisted the aid of a North Carolina congressman who took their case straight to the Marine Corps' top general.

On Wednesday, the Marine Corps finally announced Lex could go home to Lee's family. It is the first time the military has granted a dog early retirement to be adopted by someone other than a former handler.

"We knew that's what Dustin would have wanted out of this," said Jerome Lee, the slain Marine's father. "He knew that we would take care of Lex and love him, just like our own."

Lee's family from Quitman, Miss., is scheduled to pick up Lex from the Albany base Dec. 21, exactly nine months after the fatal attack.

Though some shrapnel remains lodged in his back, Lex has otherwise recovered from his wounds and has been serving alongside military policemen at the Albany base since July.

"It is extraordinary," said Col. Christian Haliday, commander of the Marine Logistics Base in Albany, Ga., where the dog is based. "As far as we know, it's the first time that a waiver of policy of this nature has been granted."

Officials at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, which trains dogs for all service branches, confirmed it is the first case of its kind.

Lee joined the Marines after graduating from high school in 2004. His father said his drive to become a dog handler came from Lee's mother, who worked with search-and-rescue dogs for their local emergency management agency when Lee was a boy.

After finishing his military police and dog handler training, the young Marine headed to Albany. Lee adopted his first canine partner, Doenja, from the military and sent him home to Mississippi last year when the 11-year-old dog began losing his sight and had to retire.

Lee formed an equally strong bond with his new partner, Lex.

The military has more than 1,700 dogs that work alongside American troops, including about 260 in the Marines. Their bomb-sniffing skills have been in high demand in Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., said he discussed the Lees' case with Gen. James T. Conway, the Marine Corps commandant.

"The way I look at this, dogs are being trained every day to be a part of the armed forces," Jones said. "This family gave their son for their country. This is a small gift back to them."

© Copyright 2007 CSC Holdings, Inc.

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Family allowed to adopt fallen son’s dog

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 12, 2007 16:40:04 EST

After more than six months of effort, the family of a fallen Marine dog handler got permission Wednesday to adopt the bomb-sniffing German shepherd who was at their son’s side when he died in Fallujah, Iraq, last March.

The family of Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee is planning to pick up the 7-year-old dog named “Lex” on Dec. 21 at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., where Lee was stationed.

“Lex will always be a special part of our family,” Lee’s father, Jerome Lee, said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “Lex was Dusty’s best friend and partner.”

The Lee family has been battling bureaucracy for months after the Corps initially refused to release the dog for adoption. Well-trained working dogs are in short supply, and Lex was healthy and able to continue working, Marine officials said.

Lee, 20, spent the final months of his life with Lex at his side. He was killed March 21 on a daily mission when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded nearby. The dog was also wounded but crawled over to his handler, nudged his face, then lay at his side as a corpsman treated his wounds, Marines in Lee’s unit told his family.

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Family wants fallen Marine’s military dog

Corps resists adoption efforts until German shepherd is retired

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2007 11:09:21 EST

When Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee’s personal effects were shipped to his childhood home in Mississippi after his death in Iraq last spring, his family found some typical items — a laptop computer, a pair of glasses and a few photos from home.

But they also found some things not every Marine would have — several dog toys, a harness and a short, knotted piece of rope, gnawed and frayed at the ends.

Lee was a 20-year-old dog handler who spent the final months of his life with a German shepherd named Lex at his side. They were on a mission together on March 21 when a rocket-propelled grenade killed Lee. As the young Marine lay dying on a street in Fallujah, the dog nudged his handler’s face, then lay loyally at his side while a corpsman treated his fatal wounds, several Marines told his family.

More than eight months later, as members of the Lee family prepare for their first Christmas since Dustin’s death, they have a final request of the Marine Corps: permission to adopt their son’s canine partner.

“I know Dustin would want Lex to be with his family,” said Lee’s uncle, Brian Rich. “They gave their son — he made the ultimate sacrifice. If it brings his family some comfort to see the dog there, then why not?”

But Marine officials say Lex is still on active duty. The 7-year-old dog was wounded in the same explosion that killed Lee, but has fully recovered. The dog is working alongside military police, assisting with force protection at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., where Lee was stationed.

The Lee family hasn’t seen the dog since Marines brought him to the funeral in April.

Marine Corps command is “extremely sympathetic to the Lee family’s desire to adopt the military working dog after the tragic incident that claimed the life of his handler,” said Colie Young, a base spokesman. “The command will continue to support the Lee family in the adoption process at the appropriate time, if and when Lex is found unfit for duty and appropriately screened for adoption.”

Marine Corps Headquarters is aware of the family’s request, and is “working the situation at their level,” according to 2nd Lt. Caleb Eames, a public affairs officer in Albany. Lee was the third of four military dog handlers killed since 2003.

The laws covering adoption of military dogs have evolved in recent years. During the Vietnam War, thousands of dogs were abandoned or euthanized when U.S. troops withdrew. Virtually none came home.

For decades, the military considered the dogs to be “equipment” and had no process for adopting them after they “retired.” That changed in 2000, when President Clinton signed a law allowing adoptions once the dogs could no longer perform their duties.

In 2005, Congress heard the story of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, who suffered nearly fatal injuries and asked to adopt her bomb-sniffing dog. President Bush signed a law permitting early adoptions for the individual troops who have worked with the dog.

The case of the Lee family may be the first instance of a deceased handler’s family seeking to adopt a military dog. The Lee family has begun a petition drive and created a Web site to chronicle their efforts to adopt the dog.

Lex is one of about 170 dogs in the Corps, and the canines are in intense demand. Lex “is potentially saving lives by performing his mission,” Eames said.

The relationship between a dog and its handler in a combat zone is unique, said John Burnam, author of “Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship.”

“When that bond finally clicks, you just sort of become one. Once the handler draws down into the level of the dog’s world and learns what the dog knows, he can really communicate with the animal,” Burnam said. “You can see, in the case of Dustin Lee, the dog didn’t get startled by the explosion and run away. The dog was wounded and bleeding, but he crawled over and pawed to get his handler’s attention.”

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Killed in Iraq, dog team buried together

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 24, 2007 6:38:59 EDT

The first military working dog team killed in action together since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were laid to rest together July 18.

Cpl. Kory D. Wiens, 20, of the 94th Mine Dog Detachment, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and his partner, Cooper, were killed July 6 by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Muhammad Sath, Iraq. They had been in Iraq since January.

The cremated remains of Wiens and Cooper, a Labrador retriever, were buried together at Salt Creek Cemetery in Wiens’ hometown of Dallas, Ore., at the request of his family, said Master Sgt. Matt McHugh, the family’s casualty assistance officer.

“Kory referred to Cooper as his son, that’s now much of a team they were,” McHugh said.

McHugh added that based on his own research, the last military canine team to be killed together was during the Vietnam War.

The Army has 578 dog teams, and they have served several hundred rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Hans Freimarck, the military working dog coordinator for the Army Dog Program.

Freimarck said he didn’t know the last time a canine team was killed together, but Wiens and Cooper were the first for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

“Most military dog handlers look at [their relationship with their dog] as a marriage,” Freimarck said. “You give to the dog, the dog gives back to you. Every dog handler has a firm attachment to his dog and any dog in the military.”

Wiens and Cooper made up a specialized search detachment trained to find firearms, ammunition and explosives. Being on a specialized search team means more training, and Cooper, who was no more than 4 years old, did his job without a leash.

Cooper was Wiens’ first military working dog, and Wiens was Cooper’s first handler, McHugh said.

Wiens’ family is doing as well as can be expected, and their small community has been very supportive, McHugh said.

Residents of Dallas lined the streets to honor the funeral procession, which was accompanied by local law enforcement vehicles and the Patriot Guard Riders, a national organization of motorcycle enthusiasts who pay tribute to fallen service members.

Thirty-seven dog teams from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and area police departments attended the service, McHugh said.

Wiens was named after his grandfather, who was a military canine handler during the Korean War. He is survived by his parents, Kevin and Judith, three siblings and his extended family. Wiens’ older brother Kevin is serving his second tour in Iraq as a military police officer.

Memorial donations

The Oregon National Guard has reported to the state attorney general’s office questions related to the death of Cpl. Kory Wiens and his canine partner, Cooper.

At least two businesses in Dallas, Ore., the soldier’s hometown of about 12,500 people, were approached for donations to give Cooper a proper burial, said Guard spokesman Capt. Mike Braibish.

The businesses called the family’s casualty assistance officer to make sure the solicitation was legitimate, and the CAO called the Guard because he knew the Wiens family had set up only one memorial fund and that burial arrangements had already been made for Cooper, Braibish said. “We don’t know for sure that it is [a scam],” he said. “If it is indeed a scam I hope we put an end to this.”

The charitable organizations section of the attorney general’s office is investigating the incident, Braibish said.

There is protocol in place to ensure the remains of military working dogs are taken care of properly, said Hans Freimarck, military working dog coordinator for the Army Dog Program.

“I’m sure they take into consideration what the handler’s requests would be because they know the attachment that’s there,” he said.

The Kory Wiens Memorial Fund, set up by the Wiens family, is accepting donations at Washington Federal Savings Bank. The money will be used to customize Wiens’ 1972 Dodge “Swinger” and the vehicle will be used as a memorial to Wiens and Cooper.

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Military dog handler, K-9 form stronger bond for deployment

Tech. Sgt. John Ricci (right), 95th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, guides his K-9, Eddy, during a military working dog demonstration April 30. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez)

by Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

5/10/2007 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A military working dog handler with the 95th Security Forces Squadron here along with his K-9 companion are about to grow an even stronger bond as they both prepare for deployment.

Tech. Sgt. John Ricci and his K-9, Eddy, are trained to detect narcotics and explosives at Edwards.

Servicemembers like Sergeant Ricci attend an 11-week long Military Working Dog handler's course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where they meet their K-9, who also goes through a 90-day training. This is where they begin to form their bond with one another.

Sergeant Ricci learned how to control his K-9 and observe his K-9's behaviors while at Lackland.

"Training a dog is all upon the K-9 and the handler," Sergeant Ricci said. "The attitude of the dog and the knowledge of the handler play a big part in training."

Sergeant Ricci said good techniques to training a K-9 is making it fun for the dog.

"Always try to keep a K-9 in a happy atmosphere," he said. "Most of the stuff we teach them is a game. When they do detection, it's just dogs having fun finding the smell. They know if they find the smell, they are going to get a reward afterward."

Sergeant Ricci said Eddy has difficulties working for other people. He said it takes a couple months for him to adjust.

"Once Eddy and I started to build our bond and that friendship with one another we started to work great together," he said. "So its hard for him to work with someone else."

Sergeant Ricci said his and Eddy's bond is going to get even stronger as they head out to Iraq in the near future.

"He is going to have to rely on me -- and me on him -- while we are out there so we both come back home safely," Sergeant Ricci said.

Senior Airman James Maloy, another military working dog handler with the 95th SFS, came back from a deployment in Iraq recently and said the best part about being downrange was knowing he had Haro, a 72-pound German shepherd there, to back him up.

"The best part about my job is the companionship between me and my furry friend, Haro," Airman Maloy said. "I just got back from Iraq, and I had to give up Haro, who I have had for a year, to another handler here getting ready for another deployment. I was able to grow a great bond with Haro."

Airman Maloy said the best part of the Edwards K-9 unit is the big brotherhood.

"We work great together because we know we are a vital asset to the mission and to ensuring that the base is secure."

Sergeant Ricci said the best part of his job is working with an animal all day.

"If we are on base or downrange, I know Eddy will always be there to help me catch the bad guy," Sergeant Ricci said. "I know my dog Eddy will not think twice about defending me."

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Military Working Dog Teams Participate in Noise Sensitivity Training

Mar 26, 2007
BY Rob Martinez
The Fort Huachuca Scout

Sgt. James Adolfson, 18th Military Police Detachment, Canine Section, comforts military police dog J.R. who is taking part in noise training in the Engagement Skills 2000 trainer here. The training helps desensitize MP dogs to the loud noises of battle and prepares them for deployment. Photo by Rob Martinez

It's not quite the Holodeck on Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise, but it's bigger and better than your average video game, especially if you like a screen the size of a wall. With real-time video action and realistic sound effects, the Engagement Skills 2000 trainer serves as an effective training tool, and it's the realistic sound effects that are of interest to Soldiers of the 18th Military Police Detachment, Canine Section here.

Military working dog teams conducted noise sensitivity training in the EST2000 trainer, Wednesday.

The EST2000 provides interactive training enabling Soldiers to link real weapons into a system that provides various digital video scenarios, creating a sense of what Warfighters may face when deployed.

During this particular training, Soldiers hone their weapons skills and simultaneously work with their specialized search dogs, and the dogs become accustomed to the sounds of battle.

"This training is great. It helps us as a team, and it also helps us in qualifying with our own weapons," said Sgt. James Adolfson, who came to train with his dog, J.R., a German Shepherd, along with Anka, a Belgian Malinois.

These MPs and their canine comrades conduct missions on Fort Huachuca, and deploy in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well.

While deployed to Afghanistan, members of such a team from the Fort were injured by an improvised explosive device that hit their vehicle. Staff Sgt. Ruben Alaniz and his canine partner Anka suffered slight concussions. According to Alaniz, this may have affected the specialized search dog who has grown hesitant in performing her duties. She has also become slightly aggressive, a characteristic not conducive to fulfilling her mission.

Anka is trained to search for explosives and weapons caches, and continued her mission in Afghanistan, finding a number of explosive devices. But, her impeded performance became a concern.

According to Alaniz, the veterinarian in Afghanistan recommended that she return home to rest and recuperate, so the team returned to Fort Huachuca.

Part of the recuperation process is to expose Anka to the sounds of battle - single shots, multiple bursts, and fire from an automatic weapon as well as the sounds of IEDs, mortars or rocket-propelled grenades exploding nearby.

The EST 2000 worked out.

Master Sgt. James Knight, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the training facility, said that the canine teams' training is in addition to regular training sessions with the 18th MP Detachment.

"When we have open time ... we'll bring the dogs over and let them work. We have a couple that are deploying, a couple that are coming back, and ... the one that's in rehab, so it works out to be a pretty good situation," Knight said.

As with humans, confidence is important for performance. And dogs are no different than humans concerning the adverse affects of battle, such as the concussion Anka suffered.
While J.R.'s training is intended to prepare - becoming accustomed to battle sounds - Anka's is geared toward rehabilitation.

Within the customized building located in "Old Post," Knight dimmed the lights to heighten the effect of the trainer as it simulated a dawn attack. The Soldiers lay in a prone position; their weapons propped up on sand bags, and waited for enemy soldiers to creep out of the forest scenario.

As images of the enemy appeared on the screen, the Soldiers engaged them with fire from M-16s and an M-60 machine gun, and blasts from an M203 grenade launcher. The realistic sounds of gunfire and explosions filled the area, and Knight periodically yelled instructions, directing fire.

Adolfson and J.R. crept onto the set, in between two Soldiers. Adolfson coaxed J.R. to move forward, closer to where the Soldiers had their weapons, calming him by whispering encouraging words and petting him.

The two huddled closely behind the sandbags, and Adolfson calmed J.R. whenever he became agitated during the firefight.

Later, the two teams took turns firing the weapons themselves, still working with their dogs.

Sgt. James Adolfson and J.R. are preparing for deployment in June, J.R.'s first time.
Anka is progressing, Alaniz said, and he expects she will soon be ready to deploy.
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Airmen help Kyrgyz K-9 corps take shape
by Capt. Tim Wade
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

2/27/2007 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNEWS) -- Airmen of the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here are training a new breed of fighters for the war on terrorism.

The Airmen normal protect the members of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, but are now helping train a Kyrgyz military working dog unit.

A warehouse here has been designated as the playground, and when the building door opens, Tech. Sgt. Mark Lotre of the 376th ESFS K-9 unit gives the order to a waiting Kyrgyz team to begin searching the area.

A Kyrgyz dog handler issues the order, "???! - ISCHI," which means search to Valya, a 10-month old pure Belgian shepherd.

The dog frantically moves from area to area, but the handler controls the dog. The dog moves from wheel to wheel, up and down, and side to side of a forklift. Even though the amount of explosives used is very small, it is found by Valya.

Off to the second obstacle. Rows of pallets line the left side of the warehouse.
Valya, with handler in tow, weaves in and out of the rows of pallets then she sits down again. Valya's reward -- out comes the ball and it is time to play. Her handler throws the ball and off she runs. The game is not over though. She has one last mission in the warehouse. Valya searches a stack of boxes and again finds the explosive.

The training is a game that serves another purpose, Sergeant Lotre said.

"What we do is build the confidence in the dog," Sergeant Lotre said. "The physical ability and all that is one thing, but the confidence is important."

The confidence is not only important to the dog, but also to the handler as well.

"When we first started the class project, there was no confidence whatsoever," said Valya's handler. "The dogs were not trusting and confident in us, and we were not trusting and confident in them. We did not have that trust link between dog and handler. It has changed a lot. We trust our dogs and we know if an explosive is there, it will definitely be detected by the dog."

Prior to the war on terrorism, a military working dog unit was not a capability of Kyrgyz republic, Valya's handler said. The dogs are now on the front line.

"In fact, these dogs will work for the whole republic," the Kyrgyz handler said. "Of course, having these dogs trained well enough, they can help prevent certain terrorist attacks or explosions."

The Kyrgyz handler also said the team is looking to increase the number of dogs from three to five within the next year.

Even with such a serious job at hand, the handlers prefer to treat the training as a game.

"The dog can't tell whether we're real world or whether we are training," Sergeant Lotre said. "All the dog knows is it is playing a game and we always let him win that game. Whether we are doing attack work or explosives, the dog is always going to win. Because once you lose that game and someone beats you, you don't want to play anymore. They always want to come back and play."

The training is not only for the dogs, but also for the trainers.

"When we are doing our training, we are training their dogs (and) handlers," Sergeant Lotre said. "We totally explain the method which we're using and why we are using it. So when they encounter another similar problem, they can relate back to it and fix that problem on their own."

The training is not going to stop once Sergeant Lotre and his team redeploy.

"We have already discussed with leaderships, the base and theirs, of continuing this training," Sergeant Lotre said. "Our replacements already know what these dogs are doing, where they (are and) where they need to go. We already have the foundation set, so when we turn the reigns over, they fall right into place and the training will continue."

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Man’s Best Friend Buried at Sea
Story Number: NNS061204-17
12/4/2006

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter D. Lawlor, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Master-at-arms dog handlers from Yokosuka Naval Base ceremoniously paid their last respects to three of their working dog partners during a burial at sea service Dec. 2 aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19).

Burials at sea are an age-old tradition in the Navy, but this ceremony was the first of its kind on Blue Ridge involving three military working dogs, Art, Max and Connor.

The dogs were memorialized with the same respect that any Sailor would receive after a career of honorable service to his country.

Their remains were committed to sea, a fitting tribute to three Sailors who spent time underway and were deployed during their service as military working dogs.
Lt. Cmdr. Cliff Ford, Blue Ridge chaplain, led the service by offering prayer and reading poems that reflect the special bond dog handlers have with their four-legged partners.

Chief Master-at-Arms Maria E. Soto, kennel master for Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, attended the ceremony, receiving Military Working Dog Connor’s National Ensign on behalf of his handler who could not attend the service.

“Connor was a great dog,” said Soto. “I’m glad he’s getting this recognition. He deserves it… all military working dogs do.”

Soto explained how much the ceremony meant to her and other dog handlers.

“These dogs don’t receive medals or promotions for doing their job,” she said. “They don’t volunteer to be a part of the Navy, but yet they serve with obedience and loyalty.”

Military working dogs play an integral role in the Navy’s mission of defending freedom. They even serve in combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, helping our troops deployed there to combat terrorism.

“Connor spent time in Afghanistan as a patrol explosive detection dog,” said Soto. “He put his life on the line for other’s safety.”

According to Soto, military working dogs like Connor who are explosive and patrol qualified, save countless lives detecting explosive devices and deterring violence from escalating during face-to-face conflicts with hostiles.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class (AW) Michael B. Thomas, Yokosuka Military Working Dog Kennel supervisor and trainer, has been working with dogs in the military for four years. He worked directly with 9-year-old Art, a German shepherd nicknamed “The Master Chief” for his all-knowing skill level in the canine corps.

Thomas was partnered up with Art for the last few years and was with him during the final moments of his life. Thomas said he is deeply saddened by the loss of his partner.

“The night he died was traumatic for me,” said Thomas. “We went out and did our patrols that day and everything was fine, but when we were finishing up for the night he didn’t want to get out of the vehicle. I took him to the veterinarian that night and they discovered a massive malignant tumor in his chest. The doctor recommended having him euthanized to spare him any more suffering. He was a tough dog.”

Like Connor, Military Working Dog Art served in Yokosuka as a patrol explosive detector dog and also was deployed to a war zone in Iraq.

“Art saw actual combat,” said Thomas with pride boasting about his dog’s past assignment. “The unit he was with in Camp Falcon got fired on by mortars, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.”

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Mark Anthony Garcia, a Yokosuka military working dog handler, has also been working with military dogs for four years. He worked with Art, Max and Connor on the training field and received Max’s Ensign on behalf of the command.

“Max wasn’t my dog, but he’s still a member of the master-at-arms family,” Garcia said. “We treat them like one of our own and I feel privileged to be here for him. As a handler, you develop a strong bond with your dog; stronger than one you’d develop with a human partner and stronger than the bond you have with your pet dog. My military working dog protects my life and I protect his. I trust him more than any human partner because these dogs are completely loyal to their handlers no matter what’s happening.”

Commonly after six or seven years in the fleet, military working dogs are taken off of active duty and become training dogs. Once they reach 9 to 10 years old, they are traditionally put up for adoption and often are adopted by one of their previous handlers.
The three German shepherds were all nine to 10 years old and died of natural causes before they could retire. They were permanently laid to rest in the Pacific Ocean 34 degrees 24.8 North by 140 degrees 57.3 East. Instead of the customary wreaths that are thrown in the water following the remains, the collar of each dog was thrown overboard to serve as a floating grave marker for three of the canine corps’ finest.

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Jeff Bartkoski and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

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War dogs perform as heroes but go unhonored

By LISA HOFFMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
01-AUG-06

Veterans of three combat tours together, two U.S. Marines ran out of luck when they approached a suspicious-looking man outside an Iraqi police-recruitment center in Ramadi in January.
Marine dog handler Sgt. Adam Cann sensed trouble when Bruno, his bomb-sniffing canine partner, became agitated, signaling the proximity of explosives. In a flash, the suspect detonated the pounds of explosives he'd hidden in his suicide-bomb vest, leaving dozens of dead and injured all around.

Cann, 23, fell fatally wounded as he tried to shield his German shepherd from harm. In the aftermath of the blast, Bruno, his fur bloodied by his own shrapnel wounds, refused to budge and lay on Cann's chest as if to return the favor. Others in the unit said the pair were as close as brothers, having served one tour together in Afghanistan and two more in Iraq.

Cann, of Davie, Fla., was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and nominated for the Silver Star. But despite his war wounds, exemplary performance and devotion to duty, Bruno _ who is considered to be a bona-fide leatherneck _ will receive no official decoration in honor of his sacrifice and service.

Nor will Flapoor, a Belgian malinois Marine K-9, who was critically wounded when he took a hunk of shrapnel to the liver in the same attack. Nor Chang, a black shepherd that saved his handler's life in a separate battle by jerking him out of the bull's-eye just as an enemy sniper fired.

Nor will any other of the hundreds of U.S. war dogs serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom daily put themselves in harm's way to catch insurgents, uncover hidden bombs, search buildings and otherwise save lives. The canine casualty count now stands at six dead and five wounded.

But because they are what the Air Force and other services categorize as "non-humans," they are ineligible for any official medal _ no matter how extraordinary their contributions or how many lives they save.

An organization devoted to honoring "military working dogs," as the armed services calls them, and their handlers wants to change that.

The U.S. War Dogs Association, a nonprofit group created by former Vietnam War K-9 troops, has launched a drive to convince the Pentagon that, at the very least, dogs serving in combat deserve a medal to show the country's appreciation for their loyal and courageous conduct in war.

The group is not advocating that Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars or any other current high honor be bestowed on dogs. Instead, the organization has asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to create a new decoration _ the "United States K-9 Military Service Medal" _ to recognize the canines for their combat contributions.

Dogs working side-by-side with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are "saving lives on a daily basis," Ron Aiello, a Vietnam war-dog handler and president of the association, wrote in a recent letter to Rumsfeld. "In some cases they are also wounded or killed in the line of duty, yet we give them no credit for their service."

Even the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization, has no objection to the creation of a medal for war dogs, said Legion spokeswoman Ramona Joyce.

"We recognize the value of our animals in the line of duty," Joyce said.

The military won't reveal the total number of K-9s deployed, citing security concerns, but Aiello estimates about 700 have served in the war zones.

Asked about Aiello's letter, a Pentagon spokeswoman said the no-medal policy is firm. Although K-9s are appreciated for the "invaluable contribution" they make, decorations are reserved for "human personnel," Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke said, via e-mail.

Citing statues at two U.S. bases that honor war dogs, the Defense Department "maintains the most appropriate means to recognize this service is through the use of military memorials," Krenke said.

It wasn't always thus. In World War I, Stubby, a squat little mixed-bull terrier, earned fame by accompanying soldiers in 17 battles, getting wounded and gassed in the process. He even held a German spy by the seat of his pants until GIs could secure him. Now stuffed and on display at the Smithsonian Institution, Stubby boasts a Purple Heart (awarded posthumously) and eight other medals on his cloth "uniform" cape. He was even made a lifetime member of the American Legion.

In World War II, a mixed-shepherd-collie named Chips was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for single-handedly attacking an enemy machine-gun nest in Sicily and, despite a bullet wound, forced the six-man crew to surrender. The Army later revoked the awards, calling it demeaning to service members to give medals to animals.

That policy continues now, although some commanders have presented Bronze Stars or Purple Hearts to dogs for their Iraq and Afghanistan war duty. An Army brigadier general at Fort Gordon, Ga., for instance, pinned a Bronze Star on the collar of Donja, a Belgian malinois, who detected explosives residue in a sport utility vehicle in Afghanistan in 2002. The driver was a suspected terrorist wanted for murder in Pakistan.

While the general violated Army policy and rules, the service isn't inclined to enforce either, when it comes to such "unofficial" medal awards, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Kevin Arata said. Instead, the Army views these infractions as benign ones that hurt no one but provide a big boost for the soldiers, who are passionate in their devotion to their charges.

"We don't come looking for violators. We realize that it is good for the morale of the unit," Arata said.

Those serving with war dogs are their greatest advocates, attesting to their unmatched skills at ferreting out hidden munitions and explosives, and finding or deterring bad guys. These troops marvel at the dedication and perseverance the dogs demonstrate, even in the worst of conditions.

"Our dogs are what (make) us a valuable part of this fight on terrorism. Without them, we would just be another cop on the gate or patrol," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan Gudmundson via e-mail from Kuwait, where he is on his fifth tour, this time with Zorro, a malinois.

Many dogs are on their third or fourth combat tours, which each can last six months to a year. Most of those wounded in combat or felled by the heat return to duty.

Besides risking their own safety each time they hunt for explosives or patrol a dangerous street, the canines endure blazing 120-degree heat, hearing damage from close-by explosions, worn-out paw pads, broken teeth, stress diarrhea _ and still give their all to their jobs, say handlers, who are required to provide meticulous care and ample rest to their charges.

"They love to work," said Bill Childress, military dog program manager for the Marine Corps. "They are extremely effective."

There is no official count of how many tons of bombs and other weapons the dogs have found, nor any way to calculate the number of lives saved _ including those of Iraqi forces and civilians _ by the confiscation of lethal items or the disruption of intended suicide and other deadly attacks.

Santo, a Marine shepherd deployed to Fallujah, sniffed out _ among other things, 250 enemy armor-piercing rounds buried more than a foot deep in the Iraqi desert, not to mention 1,000 rounds of other ammunition and 12 rocket-propelled grenades. Rico, an Air Force malinois, is credited by his fellow airmen with catching 26 insurgents in the Kirkuk, Iraq, area.

Air Force handler Gudmundson, 25, says those K-9s and others have earned their nation's thanks, over and over. Aiello says the 30,000 canines used by the U.S. military since World War I _ including the 4,000 who served in Vietnam, only to be euthanized or abandoned when U.S. forces left _ deserve it, as well.

"These animals work their entire lives as 'pieces of equipment' and deserve a lot more credit and recognition than what they get now," wrote Gudmundson, of Vista, Calif.

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Military working dog takes bomb's bang away

Story by Lance Cpl. James B. Hoke

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2005) -- From the deserts of Iraq to the grassy slopes of Afghanistan, there has always been an impending threat of disaster. However, with the help of one of man’s best friends, Kwinto, this threat has been slightly reduced.

Kwinto, a military working dog on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, is an 8-year-old Belgium Malinois whose area of expertise is patrolling for and detecting explosives.

“Kwinto was accepted for training in September of 1999,” said Cpl. Leroy J. Becker, military working dog handler, Provost Marshal’s Office. “He’s been in the Marine Corps for six years and has deployed four times.”

The deadly but lovable canine has deployed twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq in a span of only four years.

“During the Afghanistan deployment, he was mainly used for base security,” said Becker. “He was also used for the ambassador and would clear buildings before the ambassador would go into them.”

With more than 21 months of total deployed time, Kwinto helped discover explosives in Iraq that otherwise may have been overlooked.

“His actual finds in Iraq were weapons caches, weapons payloads, [improvised explosive devices] and [rocket-propelled grenade] rounds,” said the San Jose, Calif., native. “He found a 125 mm propellant charge, three RPG heads, four 60-pound bags of FE-4, which are the explosives used in IEDs and several anti-aircraft rounds, which were found buried three feet under ground.”

When Kwinto isn’t on the job he is often found taking up his “liberty” time chewing on his favorite chew toy — his bit tugs.

“He loves playing with his bit tugs,” said Sgt. Ken Porras, chief trainer, military working dog section. “His favorite game with them is tug-o-war. He also loves to fetch. He’s just a big love hound.”

Ever since dogs were brought into the military during World War II, they have performed tasks that have saved the lives of many service members.

“Military working dogs are a huge tool in finding explosives, explosive caches, weapons and IEDs,” said Porras. “They’re also a psychological deterrent. If someone sees the dog at the gate, they will think twice before approaching.”

However, the effects of time do wear on military working dogs and cause some to lose their drive to work.

“German shepherds, because of their hip dysplasia, will last between seven and ten years on the job,” said Becker. “A Belgium Malinois can last twelve years. It all depends on the dog’s health and drive to work, as well as its control capabilities.”

Although all dogs will eventually reach the end of their service, Kwinto’s career is far from over.

“Kwinto is the perfect military working dog because he can bite when it’s time to,” said Porras, a North Bergen, N.J., native. “He’s an awesome detection dog. He’s just a big loving goofball when he’s not working.

“He knows when it’s time to work and when it’s time to play,” Porras concluded. “That’s what I think makes him such a great dog.”

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Military working dog, Marine stick together through battle, injuries

Story by Cpl. Micah Snead

AL ASAD, Iraq (Feb. 7, 2006) -- On Jan. 5, a suicide bomber tried to interrupt Iraq's rebuilding process at a police academy in Ramadi, but honor, courage and commitment by Iraqis and Marines alike was the only lasting result from the attack.

The bond between one Marine, Cpl. Brendan N. Poelaert, a military working dog handler with 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment Provisional Military Police Battalion, and an East Kingston, N.H., native, and his MWD, Flapoor, a 4-year-old Belgium Malinos, came through the carnage unscathed, even if the pair did not.

Poelaert, an Exeter High School graduate, joined the Marine Corps during 2003, selected military policeman as his military occupational specialty and volunteered to become a dog handler. Military police and their MWDs conduct vehicle searches, search open areas and buildings for personnel and evidence, perform tracking searches for lost or wanted persons and can detect illegal drugs or explosives.

"It was something extra I was interested in when I went to (MP training)," Poelaert said. "I grew up on a farm, have been around animals all my life and love playing with dogs, so it was pretty natural for me."

The bond between Marine and man's best friend is amplified in the handler-MWD relationship because of the way the two depend on each other to accomplish a mission, said Staff Sgt. Wilfredo Declet, western area staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the 5th Bn., 14th Marines MWD section.

"The bond that is built between a handler and MWD is a unique one," Declet said. "They depend on each other to perform their assigned duties. It is a team effort."

Poelaert and Flapoor deployed to Fallujah during November. The teams' primary missions in Iraq are to detect improvised explosive devices, provide crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect narcotics and ensure base safety.

"He and all MWDs have been outstanding in Iraq," Poelaert said. "Every weapons cache found by a MWD could mean the difference between life and death for a lot of people. They are really a valuable part of our mission."

In Ramadi, MPs were providing crowd control for Iraqis lined up for entrance into a police academy. With some 300 Iraqis jostling for position, the working dogs provided a calming effect on the crowd.

"People react to just the presence of the dogs," Poelaert said. "No matter where we are, here or stateside, the dogs have the same effect on crowds of people. Just being out, having that security presence deescalates most situations."

A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with ball bearings and explosives detonated the device in the thick of the crowd. Marines and Iraqis fell in the blast.

"The first thing I did was grab my arm because I thought it was missing," Poelaert said. "I saw another MP who was hit, heard machine gun fire, it seemed like there were bodies everywhere. I tried to lift my rifle but couldn't because of my arm."

Poelaert had multiple shrapnel wounds in his left arm. As he surveyed the scene, he found Sgt. Adam Cann, his MWD Bruno and Flapoor were injured.

"Flapoor tired to come to me, but he just laid on the ground and stared," Poelaert said. "I reacted the same as I would for any other Marine, calling for corpsmen. Medics wanted to treat me, but I was more concerned with getting the dogs to a veterinarian."

Bandaged from head to wrist, Poelaert continued to look for a way to treat the injured dogs.
"Finally some other MPs got the K9 truck to us and drove us to a hospital," Poelaert said. "There just happened to be a veterinarian technician at the hospital so I felt better about that. They wanted me to get treated so I was looking for another handler who could look after Flapoor."

Despite his injuries, Poelaert refused to be moved to Al Asad for treatment without Flapoor at his side. Poelaert had already lost one dog during his time as a handler and was determined to do everything in his power to save Flapoor.

"I lost a dog to cancer so I had been through that helpless feeling before," Poelaert said. "They are like a best friend. It is hard to lose a dog, just as hard as losing a Marine. I was determined to do what I could."

Marine and dog were flown to Al Asad's surgical center together. Declet took on responsibility for Poelaert as soon as he heard there was a Marine and dog inbound.

"He was assigned to the eastern region, but regardless of where they work, we are part of the same family," Declet said. "We take care of our own. Once I heard we were having a handler and MWD medical evacuated to Al Asad, it becomes my responsibility. We were waiting for the helicopter to land. Once Poelaert got off the helicopter, he ensured his MWD was in our hands before he was treated."

Flapoor was successfully treated and released in Al Asad, but Poelaert had to endure a series of surgeries and treatments in several different hospitals before being reunited with his partner.

"It was great to see him," Poelaert said. "The relationship is what you make of it, but every handler I know goes out of their way to be with their dog. It is an unforgettable bond, something you never want to see end. Him pulling through really helped me deal with everything that happened. The hospital workers were great, I can't say enough about what they did for both of us."

Sergeant Adam Cann and Bruno were killed in the attack. The loss was felt by everyone in the MP community. Declet said reuniting Poelaert and Flapoor was one way of helping the Marine push through the tragedy.

"All handlers feel the same connection with their MWDs," Declet said. "It's not only their tool, but they are always there in the good times and the bad times."

Taking on only light duties will be the routine for Marine and dog for now, but both are looking forward to getting back to action.

"Getting better and getting him back to full health are the only things I've got planned," Poelaert said. "I always look forward to training and this will be like retraining him. I have to keep him walking slow and building back up to the load of activity he is used to. He likes to work too though so it won't be easy to keep him at half speed."

Poelaert's dedication to his panting partner is typical of the concern most handlers would have in a similar situation, Declet said.

"Any other handler would have done the same thing and acted the same way," Declet said. "The phrase 'Semper Fidelis' also applies to the MWDs. We will never leave a Marine behind or in this case a MWD. We will do everything in our power to save the life of a MWD."

Poleaert and Flapoor are looking forward to fully recovering and sinking their teeth back into their mission.

"He hits like a ton of bricks and loves biting," Poelaert said. "You can tell he is missing it. We are both ready to get better and get back to work."
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They’re In The Dog House, And They Like It

Miesau opens 60-bed military working dog facility.

By Arthur McQueen, USAREUR Public Affairs

MIESAU, Germany, May 22, 2006 — They have four paws, sensitive noses and sharp teeth. Their mission, whether down range or in U.S. Army, Europe, is saving lives and protecting property.

They are military working dogs, and when traveling through USAREUR or guarding the Kaiserslautern military community, they now have a safe, secure place to bed down for the night.

Miesau’s location near USAREUR’s primary military air hub at Ramstein Air Base ensures the dogs are positioned for deployment.

Col. Jack McClanahan, USAREUR provost marshal, opened the 60-stall kennel and adjoining administrative building here May 19 with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a military police K-9 demonstration.

During remarks at the ceremony, McClanahan said he had received high-level phone calls about the lack of one explosives detection dog team.

“I guarantee you, people care,” about the missions working dogs perform, he said.

The kennel facility previously housed guard dogs for the Miesau storage site. After 10 years in mothballs, it was renovated for $750,000, said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Throckmorton, USAREUR military working dog program manager.

“We weren’t tasked to do this, we did it on our own,” Throckmorton said. “We are supporting not just the Army, but the Navy as well.”

Within the Army, the military police are not the only ones who need dog teams, Throckmorton said.

“Engineers, infantry and special forces are all using these animals. The dog program has gotten very big,” he said. “Dogs are a combat multiplier that everybody wants, low density and high demand.”

“The operational tempo for all the services is really high. In USAREUR we have close to 100 dogs, out of less than 600 in the whole Army,” Throckmorton said.

Existing facilities required repeated back-and-forth travel to deployment sites and were insufficient for large deployments, said Staff Sgt. Chad O. Jones, Darmstadt kennel noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

“In the past, when a platoon of dogs and handlers arrived in the middle of the night, we haven’t had room to put them up,” Throckmorton said.

The new facility can house 60 dogs, and includes an administrative building and training area, where Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover, 529th MP Company and Rio, a 7-year-old German shepherd, demonstrated military police dog procedures.

A simulated routine traffic stop turned into a chase when Staff Sgt. Darren Smith, acting as the criminal, fired a blank pistol at Glover after exiting his red sports car.

Rio did a quick takedown of the “perp” and stood guard while Glover made the arrest.

Glover said later, “he is quite the show dog, he loves performing for a crowd.”

German and Dutch shepherds and Belgian Malinois generally work as patrol dogs in narcotics, explosives and as combat trackers, according to the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center.

Detector dogs, those trained to detect an explosive or drug odor, can be any breed that meets DoD standards, but the center lists Labrador, golden or Chesapeake Bay retrievers as the most suitable.

The dog and handler teams take about a month to bond, said Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover, 529th MP Company, and usually stay together for the length of a standard tour.

However, dog teams deploy on a shorter schedule than the yearlong rotations most troops here face, said Sgt 1st Class Kenneth Throckmorton, USAREUR military working dog program manager.

Staff Sgt. Clayton Glover, 529th MP Company, gives his partner Rio some congratulations after his takedown of Staff Sgt. Darren Smith, who acted as the perpetrator. Rio, a 7-year-old German Shepard, demonstrated his skills during the opening of a new USAREUR kennel facility in Miesau, Germany. Photo by Arthur McQueen, USAREUR Public Affairs.
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Bo (foreground) stands with his former handler, Staff Sgt. Chad O. Jones. Bo was injured during an insurgent attack in Iraq and was missing for several days. He has recovered and is back on duty in Miesau, Germany. Photo by Arthur McQueen, USAREUR Public Affairs.

“Starting with the Balkans, we have found that six-month deployments are much more effective (for the K-9 teams). In this way we can provide a fresh asset for the commander,” Throckmorton said, explaining that a working dog loses its training edge after that time.

“It makes more sense to have a dog that will function the way he should for six months, rather than being there for a year and only functioning for eight,” he said. “Stress can have an effect on dogs as well.”

One dog who has experienced the stress of combat is Bo, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois.

Bo spent six months in Iraq with Staff Sgt. Chad O. Jones, who was the kennel master for Abu Ghraib detention facility.

Although trained as a patrol narcotics detection dog, Bo’s mission in Iraq was prisoner handling, perimeter security and as a visual deterrent.

“April 2nd, 2005, Bo was in the kennel, and I was in the chow hall,” Jones said. “We came under attack by about 150 insurgents.”

The kennel was hit by mortar and rocket propelled grenade fire.

“Bo is what we call a ‘gunfire aggressive’ dog, he gets agitated by loud noises,” Jones said.

The attack spurred Bo to plow through the kennel door and escape; he was found several days later, said Jones.

“We found him in another building. He was actually wounded, laid up in another building with shrapnel (wounds),” Jones said.

While Bo was missing, Jones said, “I was distraught, you build such a bond with these dogs. I don’t have another human being to rely on as an MP.”

Rio, a military working dog with the 529th MP Company, stands guard over thick-jacket-wearing "perp" Staff Sgt. Darren Smith, also of the 529th, whom Rio had taken down. Rio demonstrated one of the many tasks military working dogs perform. Photo by Arthur McQueen, USAREUR Public Affairs.

“This is my partner. I feed him, teach him, bathe him, I take care of his social needs,” Jones said. “He is just like my son or best friend. When something like that is separated from you, there is an emptiness.”

“I had to keep my mind set on finding him and taking care of him,” Jones said. “Everything worked out.”

Bo was medically evacuated. He recovered in Iraq and returned to duty. Now, Bo will be one of the first permanent residents of the Miesau facility, wh

He is forming a new team with Spc. Jeremy Slay, 529th MP Company, who said he has no problem working with a dog who has been in the news.

“Having gone through this experience makes Bo a better dog,” Slay said. “He’s a veteran.”

Fallen dog handler honored by friends, family, brothers-in-arms

Submitted by:	MCB Camp Pendleton
Story by:	Computed Name: Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto
Story Identification #:	2006127201229

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Janruary 27, 2006) -- Family, comrades at arms and members of the local police departments gathered at the Marine Memorial Chapel here and remembered Sgt. Adam Cann during a memorial service Jan. 27.

Cann, a 24-year-old military working dog handler from Destin, Fla., was killed in action by a suicide bomber Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq while conducting crowd control with one of his best friends, his military working dog Bruno.

The primary mission of K-9 handlers is to detect Improvised Explosive Devices, provide psychological deterrent during crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect narcotics and ensure base safety.

At the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he distinguished himself as the academic honor graduate.

He later attended the Corporals Course, graduating as class honor graduate. More recently, he attended the Military Working Dog Supervisor’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base.
“He was a special, special boy,” said his mother, Betsy S. Beebe. “He was always a goofball. Ever since he was a little boy, he constantly made others laugh.”

His older brother, Sgt. Justin P. Cann, an F/A-18 Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing added just about everyone in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., knew his name.

“He was a magnet for friends,” the older Cann recalled. “Everyone wanted to be with him, and he knew of every party in the Fort Lauderdale area.”

Although he did love to party and make friends, Cann was inspired by his older brother and the veterans in his family to join the Marine Corps after his June 2000 graduation from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla.

“I was extremely proud when I found out he wanted to serve his country, especially when he told me he was going to be a dog handler” his mother said.

His graduation from the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course at Lackland Air Base introduced him to fellow Marines who would become good friends.

“I first met Sgt. (Adam) Cann three and a half years ago on my 20th birthday when I arrived at Okinawa,” said Sgt. Benjamin M. Maple, military working dog handler with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “From the first time I met him, we got along. It seems like I was always one step behind him in everything, but I experienced so much with him.”

>From Okinawa, Cann deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2002. After his first combat deployment, he reported to Camp Pendleton in December 2002, where he was assigned Bruno and introduced to Staff Sgt. Gregory S. Massey, his staff noncommissioned officer in charge.

“He was a jokester, but he was also one of the finest Marines I have ever had the honor to lead,” said Massey. “He was never afraid to lead from the front and always wanted to get in the action.”

He deployed to Iraq in the Spring of 2004 and according to his friends, he maintained this attitude.

“I remember how mad he was because he was going to the Jordanian border,” Maple recalled. “He really fought to get to Ramadi and the other hot spots. Regardless of where he was, he was proud to be a Marine and you could see how his motivation rubbed off on other Marines. I don’t know of one person who wouldn’t fight next to him.”

He returned to Camp Pendleton with his spirit as strong as ever.

Cann and Bruno deployed to Iraq a second time in September 2005 where he was assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He was subsequently assigned to 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment Provisional Military Police Battalion. Four months later he gave his life serving his country.

“To the Cann family, there is nothing we can ever do to compensate you for your loss, but we all thank you very much for bringing him into this world,” said Col. Carlyle E. Shelton, commanding officer of Security Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton. “His contribution to the world was greater than many because he gave his life saving lives. Sergeant Cann, wherever you are, you have done your duty and forever rest in peace.”

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Airman meets doctor who saved her

by 1st Lt. Tracy Giles
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

12/8/2005 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- More than five months, 8,000 miles and countless prayers led to an unlikely reunion at a Colorado animal sanctuary.

Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana and Maj. (Dr.) Paul Morton first met June 25 in Kirkuk Air Base,

Iraq

-- a hot summer day the major described simply as chaotic. They met again Dec. 2 on a cold winter day in the relative calm of the Black Forest Animal Sanctuary in Monument, Colo.

At Kirkuk Sergeant Dana, a former 21st Security Forces Squadron dog handler, hovered near death. An improvised explosive device detonated right underneath her Humvee seat during a convoy patrol near the base.

Major Morton, a 10th Medical Group emergency room physician at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., was one of the more than 20 members of the Kirkuk medical trauma team that helped save her life that day.

Major Morton said Sergeant Dana’s lungs were severely injured and she had massive internal bleeding. She needed 19 blood transfusions to keep her alive.

“Our entire team thought she was going to die,” Major Morton said.

A Black Hawk helicopter evacuated Sergeant Dana to Balad Air Base,

Iraq

. Major Morton and a team of medics went with her.

“The helicopter ride was the scariest 45 minutes of my life -- and career,” Major Morton said. “Jamie almost died multiple times, and I remember myself vividly praying. I’m amazed to see her alive today.”

Major Morton and Sergeant Dana have been in touch via e-mail for the past month.
But this was the first time since

Iraq

they had been able to meet in person. They embraced when they met again.

Major Morton said, “You look a lot better than the last time we met.”

Sergeant Dana doesn’t remember much from the first meeting other than a split second of confusion and asking to see her military working dog, Rex, who also survived the blast.

During the helicopter flight, Major Morton noticed something about the young woman.

“She had an inner strength -- and something deep inside of her to stay alive -- that was outside of this world,” he said.

Word of the attack quickly reached her family, friends and coworkers here. They set up a Web site dedicated to supporting Sergeant Dana, took donations and offered many prayers on her behalf.

Today, the Web site has received more than 360 heartfelt messages of encouragement and support from family, military and civilian friends around the world.

The support remained constant throughout her critical days at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,

Germany

, and into the painful months of recovery and surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md. And it was there through her homecoming.

“Jamie’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous,” said Maj. Paul Cairney, the 21st Security Forces Squadron commander. “She is very blessed to be alive.”

Sergeant Dana is by no means fully recovered, but hopes remain high for her continued improvement. She walks with a cane and takes medication daily for pain. Her life has been forever altered.

Many have been inspired by her true, fighting spirit.

Her strong will is clearly evident today. She is determined to live life to the fullest, attend veterinary school and pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She also plans to continue to volunteer, much as she did before the attack, and care for the horses and animals of the Black Forest Animal Sanctuary.

“I love working with animals,” she said. “They are a major part of my life, and I don’t want to give it up.”

The sergeant says she has no regrets.

“I wanted to be a part of it, and I would go back to

Iraq

in a heartbeat if I could,” she said.

Sergeant Dana said she wants to support the troops and recognize “the men and women who are putting their lives on the line every day and dying for our country.”

“And I want to thank my family, friends and the Air Force who have all been behind me every step of the way,” she said.

________________________________________________________________

Military working dog saves handler's life

Submitted by:	2nd Force Service Support Group
Story by:	Computed Name: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
Story Identification #:	2005122122929

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Dec. 2, 2005) -- Imagine you are a military police Marine walking through the streets of Iraq on a routine foot patrol when your squad stumbles upon an unexploded ordinance wedged in a local national’s driveway. You and your military working dog take cover behind a seven-ton truck before the engineer team blows up the ordinance.

Now, imagine taking sniper fire while you’re kneeling next to the truck with your working dog strapped to your chest, trying to see where the shots were coming from.

The wind stings your eyes as you try to focus on anything that looks like a hostile force in the distance, when suddenly your dog jerks you away from the truck just as you get shot in the right shoulder.

Later you find out your furry companion saved your life from a sniper who’s been trained to shoot American service members in the throat between their helmet and flak jacket.

This may sound like an episode of the early 90’s television show “Rin Tin Tin K9 Cop,” but it was reality for Cpl. Justin D. Hamma, a dog handler with 2nd Military Police Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and his sidekick Chang on Nov. 6.

“Once I heard the shot and dropped to a knee to return fire, the only thing racing through my mind was how far away the buildings in the distance were,” said Hamma. “The next thing I knew, Chang jerked me away from the side of the truck and it felt like someone hit me in the back with a sledgehammer.”

Hamma had been shot in the right shoulder just outside the protection of his flak jacket. He quickly fell to the ground and crawled under the seven-ton with Chang’s help.

“I’m hit and I’m under the truck!” yelled Hamma.

He and Chang shimmied to the front of the truck where they were pulled out and rushed to cover behind a building, according to Hamma.

Two Marines provided primary first aid on-site as an Army Medic with them and a Marine reservist, who was an emergency medical technician in his civilian life, rushed to the scene.

“I could hear they were talking to me, and I remember the sound of their voices, but I can’t remember what they said,” said Hamma.

Another Marine unhooked Chang from Hamma’s vest and attempted to
calm him down, while he was being worked on, according to Hamma.

Luckily, the bullet was a ‘through and through,’ meaning it went straight through him as opposed to the fragments being lodged in his body.

After administering his initial first aid, he was loaded onto an Army track vehicle en route to a Combat Outpost in Al Ramadi, Iraq.

“The staff sergeant – one of the Marines who gave him first aid – rode with me,” said Hamma. “He kept telling me to squeeze his fingers with my hand to make sure I still had movement in my arm.”

After all the experience of being shot and the commotion of getting on the truck, the only thing going through Hamma’s mind at the time was, “Where’s my dog?”

Hamma was seen by the onsite doctors in Ramadi, who revealed he had a broken bone in his humerous and a fractured scapula to go along with the bullet hole through his shoulder. He recovered well, but required additional surgery, so he was flown back to the states the following Friday – Nov. 11.

Three weeks after his injuries, Hamma still wears a machine to help heal his bullet wound, but wears no cast or anything for his shoulder bones.
“I’m healing better than I could have ever imagined after being shot,” said Hamma.

Hamma is very grateful for the care and quick thinking of the Marines who assisted in saving his life, and he’s glad to be back home, but there’s an essential part of his life that is still missing for him.

Chang is still in Iraq and he hasn’t seen him since the shooting, according to Hamma.

“I just want to see Chang so bad,” said Hamma. “If he were here right now, I would tell him I loved him and I would probably start to cry. I owe my life to him.”

Hamma’s command in Iraq is doing everything they can to get Chang back to him by December.

_____________________________________________________________

Rex the dog sporting gold canines

325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/21/2005 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Most dentists here have performed dozens, if not hundreds, of root canals in their career. But none have ever risked losing a limb for sticking their hand between the jaws of a patient.

That is, until now.

Enter Rex, a 5-year-old military working dog. The dog could have easily removed a few poking and prodding fingers when he received three root canals during a two-day operation.

Fortunately for the dentists, the pooch was in anesthetic "lala" land.

Army Capt. (Dr.) Leah Tingley, Tyndall’s veterinarian, said military working dogs often need extensive dental work partly because excessive bite-work training can wear down their teeth. She said veterinarians are trained to perform root canals, but dentists are preferred.

"The dentists are the true subject matter experts," she said. "(Veterinarians) are trained for it, but we don't get to practice it a lot."

It was the first time Capt. (Dr.) Michelle Getz had seen a dog in the dental office. When asked to perform the time-consuming operation, she knew she’d have some studying to do to ensure her first canine root canal was successful.

"I did a residency program at Keesler (Air Force Base, Miss.) and there was some training on dogs -- mostly lectures,” the 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron general dentist said. “So I was a little nervous. I read the veterinary dentistry book to really make sure I was prepared."

In addition to the bite-work training, Rex needed the operation because of a bad habit he has, said Tech. Sgt. Jake Burkett, 325th Security Forces Squadron kennel master.

"As soon as he's done eating, he just tears into his metal food pans and throws them across the room," he said.

Over time, chewing on his food pans and kennel cage wore down his four canine teeth, or fangs. If left untreated, the area could have become prone to chronic infection.

And Rex's sore teeth were already becoming a major interference with his job performance, said Staff Sgt. John Russum, a dog handler.

"I think he was a little hesitant to bite down during bite work, so we should see an immediate improvement," he said.

Performing a root canal on a dog is similar to operating on a human, except a normal dog's canines can be up to 2 and a quarter inches long -- nearly twice the length of an average human tooth. Plus, the tooth and root is curved, said Maj. (Dr.) Orlando Colon, another squadron dentist.

The extra length and curvature adds strength to the dog's bite. But it also takes more time and a steady nerve for the dentist to perform the operation.

The dentists began by drilling a hole on the front side of each canine tooth that needed a root canal, and then they removed the tangled nerve and pulp.

"The only way to save a tooth is to remove the nerve," Dr. Colon said.

Once they cleared the debris inside the holes, and they dried, dentists sealed the holes. They placed tiny orange rubber strings -- as thin as angel hair pasta -- into the holes until they filled the cavities.

"This process is very time consuming and tedious because you have to keep filling more and more," Dr. Colon said.

The process took two days, nearly a month apart, to complete all three teeth.

The average person wouldn't have been able to tell Rex had multiple root canals, except the canines were crowned with shiny gold.

"We made gold crowns just like for a human because root canals can make teeth become brittle and they break easier," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Edwards, noncommissioned officer in charge of the squadron’s dental laboratory. He made the crowns from a plaster impression.

"Now if the dog is going to bite you, you'll see three shiny gold teeth," he said.

Dr. Getz said the crowns last about 10-15 years in people. That means they should last for the rest of Rex's life.

"We'll have to see how the cement holds up during his bite work," she said. "The gold metal will hold, but the cement might not."

Dr. Getz said she was pleased with the results and for experiencing what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I feel this went much smoother the second time," she said. "It was great (getting the experience), and I'll probably never get to do it again."

Capt. (Dr.) Lawrence Horne, who helped with the complex root canals on the second day, agreed.

"If I can do this on a dog, I can do anything," he said.

Lance Cpl. James D. Sabol, canine handler, canine section, Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and military working dog Alan conduct a narcotics search of the station's barracks Aug. 31. Both military police and their dogs are trained to find narcotics and explosives. The latter is invaluable in situations like bomb threats. Photo by: Lance Cpl. James B. Hoke
Marines ready to neutralize bomb threats
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 200598181551
Story by Lance Cpl. James B. Hoke

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2005) -- Bomb threats have been used in the past as cheap methods to get out of school, settle a complaint or seek attention. Actually a bomb threat is an act of terrorism.

"A bomb threat is any threat coming from a phone call, letter or verbally from one person to another, stating that there is a threat of an explosion," said Capt. Charles T. Pollok, deputy provost marshal, Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

According to Pollok, the reason people make bomb threats depends greatly upon the perspective of the one who made it.

"A lot of times kids will make bomb threats because they like to watch people alter their daily routines or get out of school," said the Lynchburg, Va., native. "There are a few people who actually have mental problems and do these type of things. Another thing is people who are disgruntled and have problems. The fourth one is people who actually plan on doing it."

Although most of the threats made are phony, every situation is handled as if it were real.

"Every bomb threat should be taken seriously no matter the intent," said Pollok. "We have certain procedures we follow to try and mitigate damage to both people and property."

According to Sgt. Jude J. Gronenthal, patrol supervisor, PMO, a bomb threat is considered a federal crime.

"It all depends on what the situation is and whether it's a phony bomb threat or not," said the Camarillo, Calif., native. "It is a federal crime, no matter what, to even say that there is a bomb threat if it is not credible."

However, if someone overhears another planning a bomb threat, they are encouraged to report it.

"If someone overheard someone else talking about bombing a place, and they call it in, that wouldn't hurt them whatsoever," said Gronenthal. "I would definitely encourage anyone, if they heard someone talking about a bomb threat, to call it in."

According to Pollok, people need to know how to deal with the problem if it is called in to their office.

"If there is a bomb threat then definitely call PMO and we'll respond to the scene," said Pollok. "You don't need to scream, 'Bomb threat! Everyone get out of the building!' That will just cause a panic.

"The military police will respond and get with the building manager, who's choice it is to evacuate the building or not," he added. "Any buildings that would be in the blast radius or in the danger zone will be notified to see if they want to evacuate as well."

Although the ultimate decision on whether to evacuate the building is left up to the building manager, if someone suspects anything, they need to call PMO.

"If someone receives a suspicious package or feels that there is a threat coming in, call PMO," said Gronenthal. "If you call anyone else, it is probably going to delay the situation. We have all the numbers and know all the drills. We know exactly who to notify. Besides, we are already patrolling, so we can get there before anyone else."

According to Gronenthal, most service-members are pretty good at reporting suspicious activity.

"All Marines and Sailors are doing a good job at letting us know things," Gronenthal concluded. "I know a lot of times people at the gates let us know of things that are outside the gates that are most of the times not, but could possibly be (suspicious).

"They are all good at calling in when someone looks suspicious. People are out there, and they are doing it. They are actually paying attention and letting us know."

_________________________________________________

K-9 teams keep Kirkuk safe

by 2nd Lt. Mieke Askey
506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

8/30/2005 - KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Being on the frontlines in a combat zone is never an easy task, which is why the military relies heavily on teamwork.

The Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog flight work long days, face continual training and execute a crucial mission that never ends. They accomplish this through a sturdy union between dog and handler.

Their job is “to keep explosives off of Kirkuk,” a mission critical to the safety and security here, said Tech. Sgt. Shaft Jacobs, a 506th ESFS military working dog kennel master. Additionally, they have an off-base mission that includes random traffic control points, raids and identifying insurgents in transit.

The dogs that accomplish this mission sport names such as Rex, Dutchy and Rico and have personalities as varied as their handlers. This variation can work to their advantage.

Rico, touted as the roughest and toughest dog of the bunch, is paired with Staff Sgt. Joseph Crow, who said that it is his soft side and personal attention that make Rico a little more loving.

The continual training the teams perform, in and out of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, is another reason they make such good teams.

“Stateside our mission is to train just for this combat situation,” Sergeant Jacobs said.

However, when they hit the deployed environment, the training continues to ensure each team maintains a 95-percent accuracy rate. Working and training that closely together for such an extended period of time, the handlers learn about their dogs, including what motivates them.

“You figure out the thing that gets them to work and you use it,” Sergeant Crow said.

In Rico’s case it’s a multicolored ball he is allowed to play with upon successful completion of a task. Evidently this is what works for him, as he has one of the most impressive records of the animals currently here. With the capture of 26 “bad guys,” he has proven himself capable time and time again. But it is not just a victory for the dog. The handlers must learn the subtle cues and changes the dog exhibits to make them effective.

This was never more apparent than when Sergeant Crow was searching for explosives in a nearby residence.

“Suddenly, Rico’s behavior changed from search to patrol,” Sergeant Crow said. “I didn’t know where the guy was, but I knew he was there.”

Because Sergeant Crow was able to recognize the subtle behavior change in Rico, they were able to capture an insurgent hiding in the wall.

The Airmen and dogs of the 506th ESFS have proven their ability to work together effectively time and time again as the necessary link between maintaining security and a strong forward presence here.

_______________________________________________________________

Military working dog handlers: Abu Ghraib military police have passion for their unique trade

Multi-National Force-Iraq

By Spc. Jeremy D. Crisp
Multi-National Corps - Iraq Public Affairs

CAMP ABU GHRAIB, Iraq — They say it is a labor of love. That's why they do it. Not for ascension through the ranks, not for the glamour, but because they love doing what they do. They are the K-9 troops of the Abu Ghraib detention facility, and being military working-dog handlers is their passion.

The Soldiers and Sailors of the Abu Ghraib K-9 unit are military policemen trained specifically to handle and care for their four-legged friends. The teams provide narcotics, contraband, and explosive detection while also acting as a visual deterrence to detainees at Abu Ghraib.

The Abu Ghraib kennel master charged with ensuring the welfare of the handlers — along with the four dogs in the kennel — is Staff Sgt. Chad O. Jones with the 529th Military Police Company, 95th MP Battalion, Heidelberg, Germany.

Jones' partner Bo is a 100-pound Belgium Malinois trained specifically in narcotics and contraband detection. He and Bo have been working, eating and sleeping in the same quarters for one year-and-a-half, and Jones wouldn't trade his job for anything in the world, he said.

“I've always had a soft spot for dogs,” Jones said. “Being a dog handler, you have to have a love for your job.”

If someone doesn't have a passion for being a dog handler, they “just shouldn't do it,” Jones said, adding that when the opportunity for him to go to school to be a dog handler came up, he jumped at the chance.

Jones and fellow handlers were required to attend a three-month Department of Defense school before being qualified to be military working dog handlers.

“We learned the fundamentals of control training for the dog, along with the fundamentals of detection.” Jones said.

The service members also learned all aspects of caring for the dog, including its health needs, Jones said.

“We're our dog's parents,” Jones said. “I'm the one that makes sure he goes to the bathroom, he's fed every day, he's got water, he's bathed and combed. I even take him to the vet to get his teeth brushed.”

Along with caring for and working with the dogs, the troops are mandated by the military to put in a minimum amount of training each week with the dogs.

“We have to do a minimum of four hours a week with our dog just to keep him baseline proficient,” Jones said. Just putting in that four hours isn't enough, he said. “We put hours and hours of time on top of what we are required to train with these dogs.”

The welfare of the dog is paramount when conducting training said Sgt. Craig T. Lawyer, a military working dog handler with the 272nd MP Co., 95th MP Bn. The heat in Iraq can cause a lot of problems for the dogs on patrols, he said.

“It doesn't take much for the dogs to get overheated when it's 110 or 120 degrees outside,” Lawyer said. “We just make sure we keep them cool and hydrated.”

All the training is put to use on a daily basis for the handlers and their dogs. The teams conduct patrols throughout the detention facility and provide prisoner escorts to deter insubordination among inmates. They also perform sweeps of the prisoner housing areas, searching for anything out of the ordinary.

Working day in and day out together, both handler and dog inevitably create a bond together. The bond Jones and Bo built almost came to a crashing halt in an April terrorist attack on Camp Abu Ghraib.

Mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, and small-arms fire rocked the foundation of Bo's home. All that stood between Bo and safety was a locked plywood door.

“He just dug in and rammed the door until it came open,” Jones said. Bo was seen running around the compound that day, but he couldn't be corralled, and then all sight of him was lost.

The hours rolled by, and there was no sight of Bo. “After 24 hours, I thought he was dead,” Jones said.

Two days after the attack, Jones' hope for finding his companion was waning.

“I felt like I lost my son,” Jones said.

On the third day, a Marine found Bo lying in an unused room on the camp. Alive, but unresponsive and bleeding, Bo was taken to the International Zone in Baghdad for treatment. He is still a little tender from his escape during the attack, Jones said.

“We were worried that he would be traumatized by all the gunfire and mortar rounds hitting so close, like a human getting shell-shocked,” Jones said. “But once the injuries and the pain were gone, he was back to his normal self.”

Bo is now back to full strength, healthy and training. He is able to conduct his normal patrols and training exercises, and he shows no sign of slowing down.

As Jones and Bo's time in Iraq nears its end, Jones reflected back. “Time has flown by,” he said. Thanks to his labor of love, Jones' time in Iraq was a little easier, he said.

______________________________________________________________

Publish Date: 7/18/2005

Jason Martinez gets a kiss from Renzo, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois who served as a drug-sniffing dog. Martinez, a former U.S. Marine who was a handler of Renzo, adopted him following the dog’s nine-year career with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Reporter-Herald/Douglas Van Reeth

Dog gets second life after military

http://www.lovelandfyi.com/region-story.asp?ID=1337

By Katherine Crowell
The Daily Reporter-Herald

Many military working dogs don’t ever get to play fetch or spend hours rolling around in the grass.

For the first time in his life, a former drug dog named Renzo, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois, is learning how to do just those things.

A little more than a month ago, Renzo was adopted and brought to Loveland by Jason Martinez, who’s just completed his service in the Marine Corps as chief military working dog trainer.

“He never smelled a lake, never smelled the plants and flowers around him, or home cooking,” Martinez said. “He has never relaxed on a carpet and hasn’t played with other dogs before.”

Martinez was Renzo’s handler for seven months when stationed in Barstow, Calif., in 2002.

Martinez returned to California this spring for his last two months of service after serving in Iraq when he found out that Renzo had arthritis in one of his shoulders and would be put to sleep unless someone adopted him.

“I wanted to bring him home,” Martinez said. “He served in the military for nine years, and for his whole life he’s been a working dog and never had a chance to live.”

Martinez said Renzo was bred in Germany before the U.S. military bought him at the age of about 2 years old.

In those nine years as a military working dog, Renzo worked the U.S. Border Patrol and sniffed out more than 15,000 pounds of narcotics and illegal substances.

“My biggest find with another dog was two pounds of meth,” Martinez said. “Renzo’s biggest find was about 500 pounds.”

Renzo’s age and arthritis brought his career to an end.

Belgian Malinois, one of the most common drug dogs, work for nine to 11 years on average.

“We have one dog that’s seven whose hip is bad and another one is seven and acts like he’s three. It just depends on the dog,” Martinez said.

When military dogs are old enough to retire they have three possibilities. They are either adopted, used to train other dogs at a handlers school, or put to sleep.

“Most of the dogs are put to sleep because they are too aggressive to adopt,” Martinez said.

Martinez added that the military prefers aggressive dogs “because the job calls for it.”

“They deter people from doing criminal acts,” Martinez said. “It’s a scary thing when a dog looks like he’s going to chew your arm off.”

But Renzo is not like most military dogs.

“He is a house dog that just happened to work with the military,” Martinez said.

Unfortunately, Martinez says, even “loveable” dogs are considered equipment to the military.

Renzo has the sequence Y051 tattooed on the inside of his left ear; it is a serial number used by the military to keep track of equipment.

“When it comes to the numbers, Renzo is not a member of the military,” Martinez said. “But if you talk to military personnel who work with dogs, a lot of them say, ‘the dog has helped us.’ They don’t look at the dogs as equipment, they look at them as members of the service.”

Martinez said he considers Renzo a Marine.

The process Martinez went through to adopt Renzo included a videotaping of the dog to show he’s not aggressive toward people, and a completed adoption packet.

Genny, Martinez’s wife, said she too has been very happy with Renzo.

“He’s like a puppy in the family,” Genny Martinez said. “He’s learning to listen, but he still listens to Jason better.”

_____________________________________________________________

Military working dogs: More than man’s best friend

SOUTHERN IRAQ -- Doran, a 4-year-old explosive patrol dog, searches the back of a civilian vehicle at a remote location as his handler, Staff Sgt. Gregory Long, directs him to potential hiding spots. They are assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Ali Base. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo)

by Army Master Sgt. Lek Mateo
56th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

7/12/2005 - ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Dogs are known as man’s best friend, but to Airmen and Soldiers here, military working dogs are considered a four-legged partner in the war against terrorism.

Security forces Airmen and Soldiers, along with their military working dogs, have partnered together to provide force protection on this sprawling air base that is home to thousands of coalition servicemembers and civilians.

In the eyes of the Air Force, the dogs are considered valuable property, like an F-16 Fighting Falcon, said Tech. Sgt. Terri Frye, 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s kennel master who is deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. But to her and many of the handlers she works with, their dogs are much more than that. Although the handlers understand that the dogs are Air Force property, they cannot help but become attached to their dogs after years of working with them side by side, she said.

“Your dog is your best friend,” Sergeant Frye said. “And you will always remember the dogs that you have worked with.”

Staff Sgt. Gregory Long, a dog handler here deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, said he has always been around dogs, having grown up on a cattle farm.

Part of the job for Sergeant Long and his 4-year-old German shepherd explosive patrol dog, Doran, is to search vehicles that come onto base.

Although some searches net contraband, Sergeant Long said their mere presence also provides a deterrent to bad guys, especially when they see Doran’s sharp fangs. He compared Doran’s teeth to 42 bullets that can exert 350 to 400 pounds of pressure per square inch in a bite -- enough to break a man’s arm. Nevertheless, the two share a close bond.

“Doran is my partner,” Sergeant Long said. “He looks out for me, and I look out for him, and he is a partner that I would trust my life to.”

Here, Sergeant Long has also struck up a partnership with his Army counterparts.

Army Staff Sgt. James Demaree said he thinks it is a good idea to have joint patrols with the Air Force not only because they foster a good working relationship, but also, and more importantly, because the job they perform benefits everyone here.

“The Air Force security forces and their dogs provide a service that helps us ensure that we can have a better level of force protection for our Soldiers and Airmen based here,” Sergeant Demaree said.

The natural instincts a dog possesses contribute tremendously to their arsenal for deterring attacks, Sergeant Demaree said.

“The dog is definitely an important asset,” he said. “He has keen senses like his smell and hearing that are well beyond ours and that definitely make him a combat multiplier.”

_________________________________________________

Airmen deploy with four-legged partner

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Thomas Burns watches as Ogar, a military working dog, attempts to take down Staff Sgt. Danielle Carver during training. Six dog handlers are deployed to this forward-deployed location with their dogs. Sergeant Burns and Ogar are deployed from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cheryl L. Toner)

Download HiRes

by Master Sgt. Cheryl L. Toner
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/31/2005 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Some people bring stuffed animals with them when they deploy. Some Airmen even bring the real thing.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Burns and his 9-year-old dog, Ogar, deployed three months ago from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The Belgian Malinois and his handler are part of the eight-person military working dog team at a forward-deployed location. There are six handlers, a trainer and a kennel master.

Sergeant Burns began his career as a “regular cop,” but jumped at the chance to become a dog handler at his three-year point. “I wanted the opportunity,” he said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, dog handlers and their partners have been busy, said Staff Sgt. Julian Stovall, kennel master. Sergeant Stovall is a military working dog trainer deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and he said the teams typically are deployed for six months, home for six months, and then deployed again.

Sergeant Burns knows the routine -- in seven years, he has deployed six times. But he said that is OK, because nothing beats the camaraderie at this location.

“The majority of our time is spent here,” said Sergeant Stovall of the building they work out of. “We might sleep in the tents, but this is our home.”

Spending more time with their co-workers also means they spend more time with their four-legged deployment partners.

“Back home, we don’t see that much of each other,” Sergeant Stovall said.

But on deployments, Sergeant Burns said he sees a lot more of his furry explosives ordnance-sniffing dog.

“On my days off (at home), I don’t usually see Ogar because it’s so far to drive,” he said. “But when I’m off here, I still come over and play with him and let him chew on a tennis ball.”

Deployments, however, are not all tennis balls and napping for the military working dogs. Sergeant Stovall said they follow a training schedule that includes testing the dogs’ ability to sniff out explosives about four times a month.

“The trainer puts something in an approved area, and we get called to go find it,” Sergeant Burns said. “It’s a game to (the dogs). Toys are the reward every time they find something.”

Training their dogs must be done carefully, especially when temperatures climb past 100 degrees. As with people working in the sun, military working dogs also have a work-rest cycle.

“We can only work them for about 20 to 25 minutes,” Sergeant Stovall said.

To try and stay cool like their handlers, the dogs also have air conditioning in their living quarters.

When deploying, the dogs need to go through much of the same process as Airmen. The dog’s name is on the Airman’s orders. The dogs also have to take malaria pills as well as another pill that keeps disease from ticks at bay.

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MCLB Marines use four-legged reinforcements

http://www.emilitary.org/article.php?aid=3014

Cpl. Jeremy Gadrow - MCLB Barstow
2005-05-13

Sometimes they’re at the front gate, sometimes they’re in the barracks, sometimes they’re deployed overseas, but they’re always on the alert and on the job. Rek, military working dog, shows his teeth and barks as a sign of aggression. Before each training session, dog handlers aggravate their animals to,

Comprised of seven dogs and eight Marines, the K9 unit aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow are a force to be reckoned with. Whether a task involves explosives, narcotics or a fleeing suspect, the K9 unit has a dog that’s right for the job.

Dogs have been used in the military since March 1942 in the Army’s “K9 Corps”. During the earliest installments of dogs on the battlefield, they were used to search for wounded troops, send messages and scout for enemies. In Vietnam, dogs are claimed to have saved the lives of nearly 10,000 service members. Like Marines, before military working dogs can begin their service in the military, they must be taught discipline.

Discipline begins at day one, said Sgt. Jason Dorman, kennel master. “It is essential when dealing with the dogs. We wouldn’t want one of our dogs to bite onto a suspect and not let go.”

To teach discipline, military working dog trainers use a range of techniques including both positive and negative reinforcement.

“When the dog does something good, we give him a toy and plenty of positive feedback, like petting him and talking excitedly to him,” said Cpl. Jason Martinez, MWD handler.

“Which toy they get depends on what they react best to. Some dogs like different toys than other dogs, and we give them the toy they like best.” If a dog is unresponsive, or does not act as instructed, handlers are taught a series of gradually escalating correction techniques.

“We start with a verbal correction, yelling ‘no!’ then move to a louder, harsher verbal correction,” said Martinez. “If the dog is unresponsive, a choke collar may be used to correct him.”

Once discipline is established and training completed, working dogs are ready to begin using their skills to benefit the military.

One of the most useful tasks for the working dog is capturing a suspect, said Martinez. Because dogs run faster than humans, it is hard for them to be outrun.

“The average running speed of a military working dog is 35 miles per hour,” said Martinez. “I don’t know anyone who can run faster than that.”

For a working dog, the capture doesn’t stop when the suspect is on the ground.

Dogs are also used to watch suspects as they are being searched and to guard a suspect against further escape by escorting them.

A working dog’s usefulness does not end with the ability to capture and escort suspects. Their most often used skill is the ability to sniff out illegal substances or explosives.

“In addition to the standard bite and capture techniques, each dog is also trained in either narcotics or explosives detection,” said Dorman.

The number of smell receptors in a dog’s nose is more than 25 times the number found in a human nose, said Dorman.

“When a human walks into a burger restaurant, they just smell burgers,” explained Dorman. “When a dog walks in, they can smell the meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato.”

The dogs not only protect and search MCLB Barstow, but they also provide support for many local and federal law enforcement agencies, said Dorman. “The dogs at MCLB Barstow support organizations such as the Secret Service, Barstow Police Department, Fort Irwin and American Border Patrol among others. Along with that, they also deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

The dogs love their job, said Dorman. They work hard, but they get plenty of love and affection from their handler as well.

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Marine's K-9 honored: 'One of their own'

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Sunday, May 8, 2005.

http://www.avpress.com/n/08/0508_s3.hts

By Chief Warrant Officer PETER ZORBA Squadron HMM-764 "The Moonlighters"

EDITOR'S NOTE: This latest installment of "Iraq Journal" comes from a letter written by a Marine Corps warrant officer serving with the Marine Aircraft Group-46 Detachment Bravo unit that is stationed in Iraq, HMM-764, "The Moonlighters." Antelope Valley Press is pleased to present stories from troops in their own words, unvarnished and without media "spin."

Dear Friends and Family,

Weather is beginning to climb up into the 100s now. With the heat comes the dust and sandstorm season here, so many of our days are spent working and living in an orange haze of diffused sunshine, wind, heat and dust that gets everywhere and covers everything (aircraft, equipment, skin, teeth, weapons, even the food in the chow hall).

We're all glad to be at the two-month mark, though it feels more like our ninth. Hard to believe we were home at all sometimes … that we haven't been here, doing what we do, day after day - night after night - all along. Still, morale is high and both the Marines and the helicopters we're flying are doing well, in spite of long hours and high operational tempo.

It must go hand in hand. The busier you are, the faster time goes. The faster time goes, the happier you are. Needless to say, most everyone tries to stay as busy as possible. The days are long, but the weeks are flying (no pun intended).

I want to tell you all a quick story, and if any of you know me at all … then you know I love a good story! But I think this story says something about the organization that I am a small part of here.

Last time I wrote, I described the Marines, in particular the young men and women here with me that I am so proud to serve with. Many of you responded that you were touched by the knowledge, or at least depiction of those kids … those heroes, for that is what they are. But, I digress.

A couple weeks ago I flew a night mission into Baghdad. Baghdad is a big city, and where we actually flew into, whether it would be a name you'd recognize from the news or not, doesn't really matter. Suffice to say that I fly into Baghdad almost every night, but this night's mission was a special ASR (assault support request).

A Marine K-9 had been killed and another dog wounded earlier in the day and we were going there to pick up the dead K-9, the wounded K-9 and their Marine handlers. How these Marines were attacked, whether in contact with insurgents, a sniper or an improvised explosive device (IED), we never knew.

We took off from our base and flew through the dark, star-clustered Arabian night in an open combat spread. Radios crackled and disembodied voices rolled through my helmet. The lights of small towns scattered across the desert floor, illuminated with a green glow through my NVG's (night vision goggles) passed below us and in and out of my gun sights.

At about midnight we were on short final into a small LZ with battle-scarred concrete walls, and a hardened outpost with a bullet-riddled watchtower. As we touched down, I hopped out the back of our helicopter and watched as our "dash 2" landed about 40 feet to our 7 o'clock.

The LZ was dark and no one was around. Through my NVG's I could see the Marines in the tower, and the bunker at its base, watching us, not really thrilled to see us there, two phrogs spinning on the deck inside their perimeter. And why would they be, as we presented a wonderfully enhanced target for indirect fire (IDF) in their position. Not that they don't take IDF often enough, just that we were now an added bonus to any one already predisposed to 'throwing' a few mortars or RPG's our way … and theirs!

We waited. Five minutes. Ten minutes. After 15 minutes, with still no sign of anyone, or any dogs, the crew began to grow a little uneasy:

"We're here, where the hell are they?"

"Goddamnit. Who the … is running this place."

"Do you see anybody, gunner?"

"Negative, sir."

"… If we don't see anybody soon, let's get dash 2 out of here, so at least there's only one of us on the deck here in case we take incoming. You copy that (call sign)."

"Roger that. Copy all."

Just then a door of a small industrial looking building about a hundred meters away, opened and I could see Marines moving awkwardly towards us. They were carrying their rifles with their outside hands and with the inside hand, each held the edge of a body bag. Behind them followed another Marine with a shouldered rifle, MOLLIE pack, and his hands were on the back of the bag.

But this Marine's hands held the trailing edge of the body bag more like a priest would grasp a holy cloth or a child his mother's hem, not really supporting any weight, just holding on. As they loaded the body bag into our bird, I took the young Marine's pack and stowed it and then got him buckled in. The wounded K-9 and his handler were loaded into dash 2, and I sat back down behind my .50 cal and called us clear of wires and trees as we lifted into the night sky.

Once airborne, and on the go, out of the cultural lighting from over the town, I looked back to see a big Marine, head in his hands, sitting in darkness, bent over the body of his dog.

That was a long flight. My pilot, a battle-hardened colonel, kept asking me "How's our boy doing?" as if he were a worried parent checking on his child. He handed me back a small package of chocolate chip cookies he'd been saving for the return to base. "Give 'em to our boy. He's had a rough day of it." I unhooked my gunner's belt and walked back to the young man. I put my hand on his shoulder, handed him the cookies and patted him on the back, smiling some compassionate, but dumb, smile there in the dark, 300' somewhere over Iraq. What else can you do?

When we touched back down at our base, the passenger/cargo terminal sent a vehicle out for the dogs. I helped the Marine with his gear, out away from our rotor arc, and then ran back up the ramp and into our bird just in time to grab one of the terminal guys as he was reaching for the body of our Marine, thinking it was just another piece of gear.

"Hey man - what the … are you doing?!" I yelled over the engine noise. "Leave him alone. We'll get him." The crew chief and I reverently bent over and gently lifted the body bag and carried it out of our plane. I have carried body bags before here, and I was surprised by how light this one was.

I placed my arms under the dog's body and gently set him down in the vehicle. And then, out of sheer habit, I petted the poor pup on the shoulder … or maybe it was his hip. His body was still soft, even inside the thick black polyethylene bag. As I turned to head back to my plane, I was face to face with the fallen Marine's master.

The young corporal looked at me, he had seen me pet his dog, and I like to think he saw how reverently we carried his fallen comrade's body out of the plane, but maybe not. Red eyes and a sad, exhausted face were eclipsed by a smile of gratitude as he shook my hand and mouthed the words "thank you." Then he was gone and we were back on the plane and set to lift.

Once back on our line after we had shut down, we all sat down in the back. It was quiet and no one really spoke until the colonel asked, "Did you take care of our boy? Was he hurting too bad? Did you do right by the pup? Did we treat them both with the respect and honor they deserved?"

"Yes sir." I replied last year while we were here, the brevity code for friendly KIA was "Angels." I don't know what it is this time for OIF III, but it is a very fitting term. So I told the colonel "Yes, sir, the 'Angel' was carried with respect, and treated with dignity and compassion, as was his handler." The colonel liked this and we all agreed that the dog was a Marine … as much as any of us.

But on another level, that kid had not only lost his partner, but he'd lost his dog, a dog that I am sure he loved and that loved him back. That had touched us all deep down somewhere, where you're still a kid yourself. We were proud to have been able to do what we did for this fellow Marine, this 'Angel', and each of us would willingly do it again any time. That's what Marines do.

I guess what I am saying is that we continually hear the question asked, "Why we are here?" I heard a Marine say yesterday, "Don't ask me why I am here. I don't make our country's policy, I execute policy." I guess to me "why" is not really that important.

What is important is 'how' I am here. To me, this story illuminates that "how," by showing the nature of the Corps that makes Marines what they are, and in turn, is made what it is by the Marines devoted to it and to each other.

I am part of an organization that believed it was important enough to send two helicopters and their crews, into harms way in order to retrieve the body of one of its fallen. It made no difference that the Marine killed in action was a dog and not a man, what does matter is that each one of us involved felt the same.

To us, not only was it a warranted and reasonable utilization of Marines, Marine Corps assets and resources, but the risk to eight Marines and two aircraft was far outweighed by a pervading sense of honor, commitment and espirit de corps. Why else am I here, if not to go get a boy and his dog - both of whom are fellow Marines. Few things here have been as important as that mission to me, and to my crew as well. That's "how" we are.

Semper,

Peter

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Military working dogs essential tool in Iraq mission
Submitted by: II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
Story Identification #: 20055304858
Story by Cpl. Christi Prickett

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 3, 2005) -- When people talk about the United States Armed Forces, images of light-footed Marines or large Naval ships may come to mind. Not often mentioned are the nonhuman counterparts within the ranks.

Military working dogs first entered the service in March of 1942 to serve in the Army’s “K-9” Corps. Today, the dogs, who have an actual military service record book assigned to them, are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing the enemy.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Samuel G. Colon, provost sergeant Multi National Force - West, and sergeant major of 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), is in charge of making sure the dogs are safe when they are out with Marines and Sailors on missions.

“Our battalion provides well trained military working dogs and handlers,” said Colon, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native. “The dogs here are used to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force, first and foremost.”

Daily dog duties include trips to entry control points, maneuver and mobility support operations, cordon and knocks, main supply route security and mandatory training.

Training is constant with the dogs. Each dog must be certified before entering the area of operation, and they must be recertified with their handler each year.

The dogs are not a replacement for service members, but instead, offer strengths in areas where humans may be weak. They are capable of working in any type of combat environment.

“The best way the dogs are used is that they can chase down anyone,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert P. Hansen, military working dog handler assigned to 2nd MP Bn., II MEF (FWD). “A Marine might not be able to catch someone, but the dogs will.”

Another way the working dogs are used is for their sense of smell.

“At ECPs, dogs, Marines, and technology work together,” said Colon, a former dog handler. “The dogs are trained and capable of detecting all sorts of explosives.”

The dogs know progression of force just as service members are taught. Different voice and hand signals are given to clarify what the dog is to do.

“If someone is being belligerent, the dogs can sense it,” said Hansen. “The handler assesses the situation and if we feel the need to go further, the dog will do so when given the commands.”

Obedience is the first priority of the handlers, said Hansen.

“From day one, trust and rapport are essential between the dogs and their handlers,” said Hansen. “It’s like the dogs know we’re going to be there for them the same way they’re there for us.”

The dog handlers are responsible for feeding, grooming and veterinary appointments. The Army provides all veterinary needs at the kennels.

“I was a dog handler a long time ago,” said Colon, with a smile. “I have a special bond with all my Marines, but especially with the dogs and their handlers.”

The main purpose of the military working dogs is to alleviate positions where a service member would have to be put in harms way.

“Our dogs keep Marines and Sailors alive,” said Lt. Col. Richard A. Anderson, commanding officer, 2nd MP Bn., II MEF (FWD). “Whatever the commanding general deems as our main effort, we are there. We are tremendously flexible.”

EDITOR’S NOTE
For more information about this article, send an e-mail to cepaowo@cemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

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Photos included with story:

	Military working dogs have been involved in miltary operations dating back to the early 1940's and they still play a vital role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dog handlers Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Tullier, a Gonzalez, La. native, and Cpl. Matthew A. Cobb, a Topeka, Kan. native, both with 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditioary Force (FWD), work with the dogs daily. The dogs are taught progression of force just as service members. Photo by: Cpl. Christi Prickett

	As dog handlers, Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Tullier, a Gonzalez, La. native, and Cpl. Matthew P. Cobb, a Topeka, Kan. native, both with 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditioary Force (FWD, work with their dogs at entry control points, on convoys and while doing security missions. The dogs are capable of finding many types of explosives and chasing down suspects. As dog handlers, Tullier and Cobb must be recertified with their dogs each year. Photo by: Cpl. Christi Prickett

Soldiers, K-9 Partners Work to Deter Attacks

Soldiers work with civilian K-9 handlers who use specially trained dogs to detect,
with their sensitive noses, hidden explosives that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

By U.S. Army Master Sgt. Lek Mateo, Texas National Guard
56th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 28, 2005 — U.S. Army combat engineers of the 111th Engineer Battalion, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, are specially trained to build defensive positions and obstacles to deny the enemy forces from maneuvering on the battlefield.

The engineers now apply their military training as soldiers to protect and secure the gates and walls of one of the busiest camps here in Iraq from insurgent attacks. And this time, they will have some help from a furry, four-legged partner that is armed with a keen sense of smell.

U.S. Army Sgt. Gustavo Arzaga, a National Guard soldier from El Paso, Texas, explained that the engineers are one of the components of the camp security team and that his team is responsible for manning the guard towers and entry control points to prevent attacks and keep weapons and explosives from entering the camp.

“We try to emphasize to our soldiers that we are the first line of defense and to perform a thorough search on everyone coming in the same way every time even though we see the same faces every day,” U.S. Army Sgt. Gustavo Arzaga

“Everyone and their vehicles entering this camp have to be searched physically by our soldiers and K-9 handlers,” Arzaga said. “Nothing gets through us!”

Arzaga added that, although engineers are more at home with building or destroying things, they take their new jobs very seriously. He said they stressed to their soldiers to be thorough with their inspections because what they miss could mean the difference between life and death.

The soldiers work in tandem with civilian K-9 handlers who use specially trained dogs to detect, with their sensitive noses, hidden explosives that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Paul Maddocks, a retired British Army dog handler, and his English Springer-Spaniel called “Bob,” with tail wagging, weave in and out of vehicles and persons that have just completed an intensive visual inspection by the guards.

Maddocks pointed out that although Bob is from a small breed of dogs, his size has a few advantages for this type

_____________________________________

K-9 handler Paul Maddocks and his dog Bob, an English springer spaniel specially trained to detect explosives, perform a search on a vehicle at an entry control point located in Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

of work because he is not big and offensive, and people can relate him to their pets, and that puts them at ease.

“Bob loves this job and he has lots of drive,” Maddocks said. “I can put him in tight places where I can’t put a larger dog, and he is also cute and friendly.”

Spc. James W. Hardin, a guardsman from Abilene, Texas, said the thought of having to pull guard duty for a year did not excite him at first, but he soon gained a new appreciation for his job after hearing gunfire and explosions from improvised explosive devices just outside the gates.

“At first I didn’t think pulling guard duty was that important of a job,” Hardin said. “But as we slowly started taking over the mission from the previous unit, I started to realize how vital this job is, and that is why I give 100 percent every day that I am out here.”

As Hardin and Bob prepared for another busy day at the entry control point, lines of cars began to form during the early-morning rush hour. But in a well-choreographed routine, the pair searched each and every vehicle thoroughly and quickly so as to get the people through the gates and into the safety of the camp.

Even though they know most of the Iraqi workers going through, they greet everyone with the same familiar smile and a wag, knowing that the impression that they leave will be a lasting one.

“This job is about having respect for other people,” Hardin said. “If you have respect for them, then they are going to respect you.”

Soldiers Use Many Tools in Clearing Mines
By Spc. Jason Krawczyk, USA
American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 19, 2005 – As the young engineer unzips his bag and removes his mine detector, he surveys the sandy, wind-swept hills he is about to clear. Before him sit bunkers, trenches and piles of junk -- all potential spots to hide mines or improvised explosive devices.

Army Spc. Felife Hernandez, a minesweeper with Company A, 367th Engineer Battalion, sweeps for landmines in a trench at a new engineer training area. He is using a Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System, which has metal-detecting capabilities and ground-penetrating radar. Photo by Spc. Jason Krawczyk, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
“Clearing minefields is a long, slow, time-consuming process, and there is no room for error,” said Capt. Jonathan Zimmer, the assistant officer in charge of the Mine Action Center. “We go by NATO standards, … which means we have to use two types of methods to clear a minefield and must obtain 99.6 percent clear.”
The soldiers of the 367th Engineer Battalion have multiple tools at their disposal to meet the requirements needed to consider a minefield clear, said Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Gallup, a combat engineer team leader with the 367th’s Company B. “Usually, we will go through a minefield first with an ‘Aardvark medium flail.’ Once that is finished, we send in the engineers and dogs,” he said.
The Aardvark is a mechanical flail with an armored cab capable of withstanding 7.62 mm armor-piercing rounds. “With that much armor it can definitely withstand a mine blast,” Gallup said.
In addition to the mechanical devices, dogs from the 67th Demining Dog Detachment are used. The 67th is the only unit in the Army that has such dogs, Gallup said. They are trained to work closely with the engineers in finding mines.
A dog will narrow the possible location of a mine to about a square meter, and then the engineer uses his probe to locate the mine. If dogs are not available, an engineer may go in to the field with a Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System, which has metal-detecting capability and ground-penetrating radar.
Weather plays a major factor in clearing a minefield. It impacts everything from the dogs being able to pick up the scent of a mine to the machinery getting bogged down in mud. Summers in Afghanistan are ideal for mine clearing.
“Mine clearing is not all about going out to the field with a metal detector and an up-armored bulldozer,” said Zimmer. “We must look through old logs and try to figure out what areas are already clear and what need the most attention.”
(Army Spc. Jason Krawczyk is assigned to the 20th Public Affairs Detachment.)

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KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Chris Diaz holds his partner, Waldo, before he takes down an assailant during aggression training here March 3. The dogs are trained to find drugs, paraphernalia and explosives. The dogs are also trained in routine police work, which gives them the capability to assist in highway patrols. Diaz is a military working dog handler with the military working dog section, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Provost Marshal’s Office. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris)(released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris

K-9s give 42 reasons why crime doesn’t pay

Submitted by:	MCB Camp Butler
Story by:	Computed Name: Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris
Story Identification #:	200532522931

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan -- (March 25, 2005) -- He patrols the streets of U.S. military installations on Okinawa throughout the night; guarding, protecting, serving.

He and his partner’s only mission is to safeguard residents from an unknown enemy, whomever it may be. This defender is the military working dog.

For the Marines and dogs at the military working dog section of the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Provost Marshal’s Office, their mission is simple; to serve and protect. The 21 military working dogs and their handlers assist military police units here with protecting servicemembers and military installations islandwide, explained Sgt. Kip L. Hogan, training chief for the military working dog section.

“Two teams, each consisting of a dog and handler, are on duty 24 hours a day,” Hogan said. “Each night we patrol a different camp on the island. We respond to calls just like a regular road unit, in addition to any incident which might need K-9-specific attention.”

There are two functional areas for working dogs, drug work and bomb work. The handlers have important responsibilities within the Marine Corps with regards to the war on terrorism and the safety of servicemembers on Okinawa, Hogan explained.

Most dogs are of the Belgian Malinois breed, which is selected by the military services because of the dogs’ intelligence, intensity and long life span, Hogan added. Each dog is basically trained for his specialty at the U.S. Army Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

Upon completion of the 120-day training course, the dogs are brought to Okinawa and assigned to a handler, explained Lance Cpl. Chris Diaz, a handler with the military working dog section. This is when the dogs’ real training begins.

“With a dog, there are lots of psychological issues,” Diaz said. “They are like people. It’s a relationship that takes trust, teamwork and respect, which all have to be earned. Dogs aren’t like an (M-16 A2 service rifle). They aren’t mechanical.”

Once drug dogs “hit the road” here, they can support the U.S. Customs Service at Kadena Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or the Naha port facility, Hogan explained. The dogs are trained to find many types of drugs, paraphernalia and explosives. The dogs are also trained in routine, police-type work, which gives them the capability to work normal highway patrols.

Bomb dogs are used to search automobiles, luggage and special areas and are certified to detect explosives at or above a 95 percent accuracy rate, explained Cpl. Terry R. Donaldson, a dog handler with the section. Many times dogs are used to work at spot checks at the entrances of military installations.

Donaldson spent time with his dog while on deployment in Djibouti, Africa, and stressed the importance of having a bomb dog at the gates of military installations.

The military working dogs also help keep the bases on Okinawa safe by providing a psychological and physical deterrent to terrorists, Hogan explained.

-30-

Photos included with story:

	KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Chris Diaz holds his partner, Waldo, before he takes down an assailant during aggression training here March 3. The dogs are trained to find drugs, paraphernalia and explosives. The dogs are also trained in routine police work, which gives them the capability to assist in highway patrols. Diaz is a military working dog handler with the military working dog section, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Provost Marshal’s Office. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris)(released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris

	KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — Cpl. Quyen Q. Au receives a bite from Waldo during aggression training here March 3. Military working dog teams, consisting of one dog and one handler, train together every day to build a strong working relationship. Au is a military working dog handler with the military working dog section, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Provost Marshal’s Office. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris)(released) Photo by: Lance Cpl. Martin R. Harris

________________________________________________________

Military dogs dig into security

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea -- Staff Sgt. Corby Czajka holds back his eager partner, Betty, before engaging in a criminal chase exercise here. Sergeant Czajka is a 51st Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler. The dogs are highly trained to obey specific commands and for multiple tasks. The military working dog kennel here is the largest operational kennel in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke)

Download HiRes

by Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/28/2005 - OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) -- Not all Air Force equipment has engines, wings or even operating instructions. One unit here is responsible for equipment that has a mouth packed with sharp teeth and a hide of fur.

“Osan has the largest operational dog kennel in the Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Jerry Woodard, 51st Security Forces Squadron kennel master. “We have 23 dogs.”

Sergeant Woodard said by the time the dogs are fully trained and working at Osan, they each are worth $30,000.

“Although the Air Force gives them each a stock number and considers them equipment, the dogs are partners to us,” he said.

The dogs are trained to detect different types of contraband -- and to bite and hold. The handlers here said the dogs are good at what they do.

“Unlike equipment, these dogs will learn to adjust to a specific person and situation,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Walker, 51st SFS military working dog handler. “The more time you spend with the dog, the better (it will) perform for you.”

Other handlers said the job comes with advantages not found anywhere else in the Air Force.

“The dogs don’t talk back,” said Staff Sgt. Kieth Kitchin, 51st SFS training supervisor. “And they don’t judge me.”

Sergeant Woodard said it requires complete commitment to be a successful handler, and many handlers here claim their dog is the best.

“And that’s the way it should be if people take pride in what they do,” said Sergeant Woodard. “A lot of work goes into these dogs. Our schools teach us to practice patience and knowledge.”

Just like with any other job, some days are good, and on other days, motivation is hard to find.

“Like people, these dogs have personality,” said Sergeant Woodard. “They look up to their trainer, and the dog’s mood will reflect the trainer. Everything flows down leash.”

The diverse personalities of certain dogs require different training methods, Sergeant Walker said.

“We actually had to enroll (a) dog into TriCare so the veterinarian could prescribe him Ritalin,” said Sergeant Woodard. “He’s a great dog who does his job well, but just has anxiety issues.”

According to the handlers, no matter what end of the leash you are on, everyone works together to support the mission.

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Four-legged Troops
Get Parcels Too

By U.S. Army Pvt. 2 Terri Rorke
11th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Family and friends send care packages to deployed soldiers daily. What you don’t normally find in them are dog biscuits.

A wife of a soldier here included a bag of treats in her recent package to her husband - something special for the four-legged soldiers.

Most people forget canines are fighting the War on Terror, but Kristi R. Draper didn’t.

Draper, husband of Lt. Col. Larre Draper, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, said, “Amid the horrors of war and destruction, these creatures maintain an innocence and vulnerability that touches a soft spot in our hearts.”

The dog lover and owner of two dogs said she thought it would be a cute idea to send treats when she heard about the dogs serving their country here.

Every once in a while someone will stop by and give treats to the dogs, said Sgt. Jon Lockhart, Combined Joint Task Force-180, Provost Marshal Office (canine).

Lockhart gave a couple of biscuits to each of the dogs present. Then he released his partner, Rocky, a Belgian Malanois, from his kennel to show off a few of his tricks. He shook paws with Lockhart and then he balanced a biscuit on his nose. When his master allowed him to, Rocky gobbled up the treat.

“He would say, ‘thank you’ if he could talk,” said Lockhart.

Like Rocky, all of the six dogs that work here don’t usually have a day off, according to Lockhart. The dog handler and his partner are here on their second rotation. Every day, the seven-year explosive detecting veteran sniffs out 30 to 60 vehicles, said Lockhart.

With the current world situation going on, “there is a necessity for canine teams,” said Lockhart.

All six of the dogs here were trained to military standards.

Once a dog is trained in attack, the military may purchase it. Then the dog is tested to sniff out ten different odors. Depending on how well it does, the dog will end up in one of three categories - as an explosive detection, narcotic detection or if the canine doesn’t meet up to the first two standards it qualifies as a patrol canine. Bagram has five dogs specializing in finding explosives and one in finding narcotics.

__________________________________

Sgt. Jon Lockhart, Combined Joint Task Force-180, Provost Marshal Office, balances a treat on his partner Rocky's nose. Every day the team searches vehicles that come on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, base for explosive devices. U.S. Army photo

Sgt. Jon Lockhart, Combined Joint Task Force-180, Provost Marshall Office, and his working dog Rocky work every day to assist in the war on terrorism by searching for explosives in vehicles. U.S. Army photo

They must keep up to standards or they are will be uncertified, said Lockhart. Once a year, they are tested in proficiency of detection. If tests results are lower than 90 percent in narcotics and 95 percent in explosives, their certification is revoked.

After working like a dog all day long, Rocky or one of his canine friends will take a run down Disney Drive with their handler. Once the kennel’s compound is clear of mines and some hescos arrive, the dogs will have a little more room to run and roam.

For right now, Rocky looks up to his handler, patiently waiting for his next command and another treat.

Marine dogs' first service came during World War II

By Lillian Cox

UNION-TRIBUNE

February 2, 2005

Wita, a Belgian Malinois, was put through her paces on the training course at Camp Pendleton by her handler, Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Strube. "Like any human, it takes practice and training," said Sgt. Vincent Amato, chief trainer at the base.

CAMP PENDLETON – Combat canines, the embodiment of the Marine Corps slogan, Semper Fi, or "Always Faithful," are the lesser-known heroes of the war in Iraq.

Camp Pendleton is the largest base for Marine dogs in the United States. It is home to all West Coast dogs in the service and those working overseas. Camp Lejeune, N.C., is home base for all East Coast dogs in the Corps.

The dogs are part of the Military Police, and are trained to perform patrol and bomb-and drug-detection duties.

Each dog is assigned to one handler for a two-year rotation. In Iraq, the dog and handler work and live together.

For security reasons, Marine Corps officials declined to say how many dogs are based at Camp Pendleton, but Rex, Jari, Nero, Dingo, Brik and Ama are among those currently in the kennels there. They are scheduled to return to Iraq in March, but could be called up for duty earlier.

The official Marine Corps dog originally was the Doberman pinscher, but today the Marines use only German shepherds and a variety of Belgian shepherd called the Belgian Malinois.

"The Marine Corps began having problems with Dobermans and Rottweilers," said Sgt. Greg Massey, the kennel master at Camp Pendleton. "They are good attack dogs, but not good at detection."

Marine Corps Recruit

Depot Command Museum

The Marine Corps began using Doberman pinschers and German shepherds to perform messenger and scout duties during World War II, among them this dog serving with its handler during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Although Marine dogs are required to be aggressive and protective, that doesn't mean they have to be large, Massey said. The Belgian Malinois is a medium-size dog, weighing 40 to 80 pounds.

"Size doesn't mean much. You can have 50 pounds that can leap and grab your chest, arm, back, leg, anything," he said. "If it grabs your hamstring, I don't care if you're (former Miami Dolphins running back) Ricky Williams – you're going down."

Massey said he prefers female dogs because they tend to be more loyal than males.

Dogs working in all branches of the U.S. military are recruited and trained at the Military Working Dog Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Most are bred in Europe, but some come from local breeders. Lackland also has started its own breeding program.

Dogs are selected based on endurance, intelligence, obedience and willingness to work. All dogs receive their names at Lackland and spend two years in training before being transferred to Camp Pendleton.

"When the new dogs arrive at (the) fleet, we polish them and get rid of areas of weakness," said Sgt. Vincent Amato, chief trainer at the base. "If they are timid, we make them more aggressive. Like any human, it takes practice and training.

"If a dog doesn't want to work, we encourage him with toys and praise. A handler plays a big part if a dog is going to work or not."

Marines interested in working as handlers go through a competitive process conducted by the Military Police.

"As a trainer, you are critiqued just like a dog," Amato said. "If you are thin-skinned, you will have a hard time."

Amato said the Marine Corps goes to great lengths to match the dog's personality with that of the handler.

"Dogs learn just like we do," he said. "If the dog's not learning, it's because the handler isn't training the right way. It takes time, practice and patience."

Massey said choke chains and pinch collars are only used to give a dog a correction.

"If the handler abuses a dog, he's out of here," he said.

Army veterinarians care for dogs in all branches of the military, assigning their working weight and establishing their diet.

"Working dogs are known to get bloated, probably from playing too soon and too hard after eating," Massey said. "For this reason, they are fed twice a day."

The Marine Corps began using dogs as messengers and scouts during World War II, recognizing that they could reduce casualties and find the enemy in hiding places. Dogs were donated by civilians eager to contribute to the war effort. Two organizations, Dogs for Defense and the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, provided many animals.

"Some dogs also were obtained from Army training centers, but as soon as they became Marines all the recruits were called 'Devil Dogs,' " James A. Cox wrote in Marine Corps League Magazine in 1989.

The Marine War Dog Training Company was based at Marine Barracks New River, N.C., which later became Camp Lejeune.

Clyde Henderson, a high school chemistry teacher from Ohio and chairman of the Doberman Pinscher Club's training committee, was recruited to lead the 1st Marine Dog Platoon into combat.

"After a five-day cross-country train trip, the 1st Marine Dog Platoon led by Henderson went into temporary quarters at Camp Pendleton," Cox wrote. "With the help of Carl Spitz, owner of a famous Hollywood dog training school, Henderson trained the platoon intensely for a few weeks while awaiting a convoy, making up the rules as he went along, since he had no precedents to guide him."

The dog platoon joined up with the 2nd and 3rd Marine Raider Battalions for an assault on Bougainville, an island in the South Pacific, that began Nov. 1, 1943.

Six dogs were recognized for heroism on Bougainville. Among them was Caesar, a 3-year-old German shepherd who was donated by his owner in New York City. A messenger dog, Caesar received a promotion to sergeant in recognition of his bravery.

On Jan. 23, 1944, The Plain Dealer of Cleveland published this account of his record:

"Caesar was wounded on the third day and had to be carried back on a stretcher. While with his company, Caesar made nine official runs between the company and the command post, and on at least two of these runs he was under fire."

Caesar also forced a Japanese soldier to drop a hand grenade he was about to hurl at the dog and his handler, the newspaper reported.

Other dog platoons saw action on Guam, Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

A retired Marine, Sgt. Major "Iron" Mike Mervosh, worked with animals from the 1st Marine Dog Platoon on Iwo Jima.

"The dogs could smell the enemy out," Mervosh said. "If a dog stood still, you were in trouble because you knew the enemy was right there."

Soochow was a veteran war dog beloved by many San Diegans. After World War II, he retired at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. On Oct. 29, 1946, a parade was held to honor his ninth birthday.

"Soochow started out as the mascot of B Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, stationed in Shanghai in 1937," said Ellen Guillemette, archivist at the depot's Command Museum.

"Soochow hit the foxholes with the other Marines during the siege of Corregidor, and fought alongside his buddies. He was captured when the island surrendered on May 6, 1942.

"Soochow spent nearly three years in various prisoner-of-war camps. He and 17 Marines were liberated by American Rangers in February 1945. He held the Philippine Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, Good Conduct, World War II Victory and American Defense medals."

After a career that typically lasts about 10 years, today's military dogs are rewarded with a variety of retirement options. Many are available for adoption by previous handlers, veterinary technicians and the public. Some are used by law enforcement agencies or returned to Lackland, where they are used to train new handlers.

Demonstrations by Marine working dogs are offered at Camp Pendleton. For more information, contact the community relations office at (760) 725-5569.

________________________________________________________________

Dogs of war are the most peaceable pooches
Arizona Daily Star ^ | 01/12/04 | Carol Ann Alaimo

Posted on 01/12/2005 3:54:48 PM PST by SandRat

Staff Sgt. Jason Winge never walks alone when he goes to war.

Four paws pad along beside him, swathed in special scorch-proof booties to protect against hot sand in the Middle East.

By day, Rex the military working dog sniffs for explosives that could endanger U.S. troops. After work, the 3-year-old Belgian Malinois behaves much like a loyal pet, gazing quizzically at his master as if to ask what's on his mind.

The bond between man and beast is perhaps never stronger than during deployment, said Winge, who soon will head overseas with Rex at his side.

"They get to be like your best friends. You can tell them anything and they act like they're listening," said the 30-year-old airman from Tucson's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

"It's the cheapest therapist you can find," adds Tech. Sgt. Max Talley, 32, who oversees the dog unit.

D-M's war dogs are part of a 2,300-member posse of Defense Department canines trained to sniff bombs, detect drugs and attack the enemy if their handlers are threatened.

On the home front, the pooches patrol military bases or provide security for high-profile events.

Some D-M dogs, for example, recently worked the Republican National Convention in New York City. And dogs from Southern Arizona's largest base, Fort Huachuca Army post in Sierra Vista, helped police the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, post spokeswoman Tanja Linton said.

Overseas, the canine corps increasingly is being called upon to support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dogs often get special equipment in theater, such as heat-resistant booties, bulletproof vests or doggie goggles to protect eyes during sandstorms.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Pentagon has more than doubled the number of dogs being trained each year - from about 200 to more than 500 - at the nation's military dog school at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the Defense Department Web site says.

The most common breeds employed by the military are German and Dutch shepherds and the Belgian Malinois, all known for vigor, intelligence, assertiveness and eagerness to please their masters.

Once trained, the animals are worth $40,000 to $60,000 apiece, D-M's Winge said. But they have proved priceless when it comes to saving lives, he said.

With noses many times more sensitive than a human's, the dogs can alert troops to the presence of homemade bombs used by terrorists, he said. In Iraq, the dogs sometimes travel door-to-door with troops assigned to oust insurgents, he added.

Canines have a long history of service in the U.S. military, with thousands killed in action in the last century, according to the National War Dog Memorial Committee, a South Carolina-based charity raising money for a bronze commemorative statue in Washington, D.C.

While the Pentagon now buys the animals from suppliers, in wars past many dogs were donated by American families eager to help the troops, the group's Web site says.

In World War I, military dogs were trained to kill rats in the trenches. In World War II, they worked as sentries, messengers and booby-trap detectors.

In Vietnam, U.S. war dogs were credited with saving up to 10,000 service members' lives, though the animals' treatment afterward still sickens many former military dog handlers.

At the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of war dogs were declared "surplus equipment" by the Pentagon and never got to come home. Instead, they were euthanized, abandoned or given away to the South Vietnamese, according to the Vietnam Dog Handler Association, a national group that claims 2,000 former service members.

That wouldn't happen now, said D-M's Talley. Today's war dogs serve to retirement age - usually between 5 and 10. Most are put up for adoption to homes with expertise in handling such animals, for example, former police or military members, he said.

Unadoptables live out their days in a doggie "retirement home" at the Texas dog training center, he said.

Winge said while military work dogs have a serious job, they maintain a playful spirit when work is done.

"Sometimes you just have to let them out and play," he said. "You have to allow them to be a regular dog."

____________________________________________________________

Military dogs are worthy partners in war and peace

Some troops say working with the canine team is the best job around

By JEREMY MEYER
The Denver Post

AURORA, COLO. - Photographs of a mangled and bloodied arm adorn the kennel entry at Buckley Air Force Base, a reminder that the dogs barking behind the door aren't fluffy puppies and this isn't a typical kennel.

The arm in the photo belonged to a veterinary technician who wasn't familiar with the dogs' training and inadvertently gave the signal to attack.

Buckley's military working dogs are part of the Air Force's 460th Security Forces Squadron, which provides security for the base east of Denver.

The dogs are used for drug and ammunition detection and also work with local law enforcement and federal agencies.

The dogs and their handlers regularly are sent overseas. Some are serving in the Middle East.

Staff Sgt. Chris Roach recently served in Iraq with Billy, an 8-year-old Belgian malinois. The dog's job was to sniff vehicles in Baghdad's Green Zone, where U.S. officials and the new Iraqi government are headquartered.

"Billy and I lived in the same room together," Roach said. "It's a great thing having a dog with you there. It's just like a pet at home. You get really attached. I knew he'd be there to protect me. They were invaluable to us."

Military officials see the dogs as equipment, said Tech. Sgt. Bryan Dean, a trainer at the kennel. But their handlers see them as much more.

"The dogs get treated like soldiers at Buckley," Dean said.

They're even on trading cards, given to kennel visitors as a way to publicize Buckley's security force, Dean said.

Defense officials say about 2,300 U.S. military working dogs serve throughout the world — hundreds in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Most dogs work at bases in the United States.

All of them originate from the same place — Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, the location of the Defense Department's Military Working Dog Center.

The center trains German and Dutch shepherds and Belgian malinois — smart, aggressive dogs that can withstand most weather conditions, Dean said.

Their handlers train them daily, using positive reinforcement techniques.

If the dogs do what they're told, they get play time. If they don't, no play.

"You have a dog doing what he wants to do rather than because he wants to avoid pain," Dean said.

At a recent session at Buckley, dogs practiced "bite work." A soldier, dressed in a protective suit, acted out various scenarios. Sometimes he purposefully defied orders and suffered the consequences.

At a slight sign of defiance, Buck, a 3-year-old Belgian malinois, would leap at the soldier's padded arm as if it were a stuffed toy.

Teeth locked, Buck whipped his head to and fro.

"The dogs are really a force multiplier," Dean said.

Dean wouldn't say how much money the military spends on the dogs every year. But they are worth every cent, he said.

"This is the best job in the Air Force," he said. "Working with the dogs is awesome. They're just great. Good partners."

________________________________________________________________

U.S. Marines with K-9s search for weapons
Submitted by: I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story Identification #: 2004111954829
Story by Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr.

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2004) -- U.S. Marine dog handlers and their K-9s searched through buildings in Fallujah for weapon caches and explosive ordinances Nov. 14.

After houses are cleared of insurgents, the Marines, along with the K-9 unit, conduct a thorough search of each building for any weapons and explosive materials.

At the request of the Interim Iraqi Government, the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, have fought their way through the city in support of Operation Phantom Fury.

"First we make sure the area is safe for the dogs to work in," said Cpl. Bruce L. St. John, a military working dog handler with 3/5. "The dogs are used where suspicious materials are likely to be found."

The dogs, used by Marine dog handlers, are trained at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. They are able to sniff out C-4, smokeless powder, water gel, dynamite, TNT, detonator cord, time fuse, sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Once their training is complete, they are transferred to different branches of the military for service.

During one search, the dogs were able to pick up the scent of a 20 mm round and an assault rifle through the steel walls of two different safes.

"The dogs have been big assets to the Marine Corps. The insurgents try to hide the weapons but the dogs are trained to find it no matter where it is," said Sgt. Robert C. Barham, a military working dog handler with 3/5.

The dogs were also used to secure a notorious bridge located in the heart of the city so it could be reopened. Two U.S. civilian workers were hung from the bridge March 31, it was a symbolic push in the fight against the insurgents.

The dogs and their handlers were some of the first to step across the bridge, which spans the width of the Euphrates River, in order to detect any possible improvised explosive devices.

The dogs are meant to make the searches a lot quicker and easier on the Marines. In many cases the dogs are able to get into places that the Marines cannot reach.

"The dogs will be able to help find IED and other explosives before it can injure any of the Marines," said Barham.

These well-trained dogs listen to the commands of their handlers and are trained to sit down when they pick up the scent of explosives or any weapons. There are times when there isn't anything for the dogs to find so the handlers try not to let the dogs go empty handed.

"Sometimes we have to keep them on their toes so we purposely let them find ammunition, it also makes the dogs feel good," said Barham, 25, a native of Jackson, Miss.

Although the dogs do not get paid for the job that they do, they are rewarded when they do something good.

"The dogs don't work for any money but when they make the dog handlers happy they get to play with a rubber ball that they enjoy," said St. John, 20, a native of West Palm, Fla.

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More than a hundred pounds of teeth, fur and bad attitude smile for the camera as Cpl. Donald Paldino of Quantico Security Bn. holds back Santo, a 5-year-old male German Shepherd recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with Paldino. As a team they were used to help discover weapons and explosives caches hidden by insurgents. Photo by: Lawrence Giberson
Quantico K-9 team makes history in Iraq
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification #: 20041119152957
Story by Cpl. J. Agg

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Nov. 18, 2004) -- With more than 450 Marines and Sailors deployed from Quantico and the rest of the National Capital Region for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, receptions for our returning heroes are becoming increasingly commonplace. One returning Quantico Marine, however, had the distinction of completing a particularly notable mission of historical significance.

Military working dog handler, Cpl. Donald Paldino, and Santo, a formidable, 108-pound, explosives-sniffing German shepherd, became one of the first military working dog teams to serve with a combat unit since the Vietnam War when they were deployed to support 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Baharia, a forward operating base outside Fallujah, Iraq from March 18 through Sept. 27.

Paldino said his and Santo’s task of searching for hidden weapons caches, improvised explosive devices and booby traps was immensely beneficial to the Marines in the fight.

“My dog and I saved Marines’ lives,” said Paldino. “To be the first since Vietnam to do that was rewarding. I’m glad I could represent Quantico Security Battalion.”

While, by every measure, Paldino and Santo were successful in their mission, one key task was to discover which methods and gear did not work well for military working dog teams. The information was shared with both commanders in theater and leaders in Quantico so that adjustments could be made to better train future deploying teams.

Staff Sgt. Dana Stroud, Security Bn. kennel master, said three other MWD teams have forward deployed from Quantico since Paldino, and all have benefited from his operational experience.

“Paldino is an immensely responsible Marine and a great handler,” said Stroud. “He was fabulous in getting us information [which was] integral to our training of other Marines we have sent forward. He couldn’t have been more successful if there were three of him.”

Paldino said that he and Santo trained as best as they could prior to deploying, but agreed that future working dog teams will be better prepared for service in Iraq in part because of his experience.

“We practiced with gunfire, but we really didn’t know what to expect,” said Paldino. “The guys going over now can do so much more to get their dogs ready.”

Paldino said Santo, one of a dozen Marine Corps military working dogs in Iraq at the time representing every base in the Marine Corps, performed well despite harsh conditions. Among Santo’s finds were 250 armor-piercing rounds buried more than one foot deep in the desert, and a large buried cache of arms including 12 rocket propelled grenades, several AK-47 assault rifles, 1,000 rounds of ammunition and detonation cord.

“(The dogs) were awesome,” said Paldino. “We found a lot of stuff over there. (Santo) was also a big morale boost. The Marines loved having him on patrol with them.”

According to local intelligence reports from Fallujah, the working dog teams were so successful, insurgents placed a bounty of $25,000 on the dogs and $12,000 on their handlers.

“I shrugged (the bounty) off,” said Paldino. “I figured if I sat around and worried about it, we wouldn’t be effective in our jobs.”

Paldino found Santo sometimes created tensions with locals who had an aversion to dogs and having the animals in their homes.

“They were scared of the dogs … even hated them,” said Paldino. “In crowd control situations it worked for us, and it worked against us when we had to search homes. For most of the houses we went into, we already had intelligence that something was there so we had to do it. It was awkward, but we tried to be sensitive.”

While Paldino said he was overjoyed to be reunited with his wife, Melissa, his thoughts often turn to his fellow Marines’ ongoing mission in Iraq.

“I watch Marines on TV back in Fallujah and I wish I was there,” said Paldino. “I feel guilty for leaving, but you can’t be there all the time. Everyone gets their turn, and it’s nice to be home.”

Times photo by Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com

Spc. Kurt Ballash works with mine dog Bruno on the qualification course at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The dogs can detect explosives in littered minefields. See more photos at www.sctimes.com.

18 November, 2004
Man's best friend helps detect hidden land mines
By Michelle Tan
mtan@stcloudtimes.com

BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN -- They walk into minefields armed only with their noses and the promise of a good chew toy.

They're undeterred by the junk that litters their work area. They go in unprotected. They have no Kevlar helmets or life-saving flak vests.

The 19 mine-sniffing dogs that serve at Bagram Air Base probably don't realize how much the soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve's 367th Engineer Battalion have come to rely on them.

Previous use

The dogs are relatively new to the military's arsenal in Afghanistan. Dogs were used in Vietnam, but have been in Afghanistan less than two years. They've quickly become a tool soldiers trust.

The 367th's prime mission is part of an international effort to clear Afghanistan of what experts call the perfect soldier, one that never sleeps and rarely fails to do its deadly job.

About 10 million mines litter Afghanistan's rugged terrain. Many of the 367th's more than 500 members spend their days clearing mines at Bagram. The work is complicated by the unbelievable amount of metal debris left from years of war.

Mine difficulties

Any metal sets off hand-held mine detectors, so it's difficult for soldiers alone to differentiate between a mine and metal scraps.

"(The dogs) can bypass non-threat items and look just for explosives," said Lt. Joel Welter of the 367th.

Welter, of Brooklyn Center, leads a group of soldiers who go into minefields with handheld detectors. They work closely with the dog teams.

"The ground here is really contaminated," Welter said. "These guys have unearthed, literally, tons of metal junk. It's astounding the amount of junk we've found."

It can take hours for a team to clear one square meter of contaminated land. The dogs zero in on explosives, bypassing cans and other pieces of junk.

The dogs are more efficient, Welter said. They're even able to sniff out explosives that are 20 years old.

"When we're fortunate enough to have a dog at each site, the manual team pairs up with each dog team," he said. "The dogs find anything with an explosive scent. They're very sensitive."

Dogs on the field

Handlers bring their dogs to the edge of a minefield and let them run out their 10-meter leashes before bringing them back.

When a dog finds something, it sits while a handler marks the spot. Then a manual team checks the area with a handheld mine detector. While the soldiers trust the dog's training, the manual teams don't take chances.

They wear helmets, face shields, flak jackets and protective boots into the field.

So far, there have been no accidents, and the soldiers intend to keep it that way.

Training starts early

The military has five dogs from its 67th Engineer Detachment of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., at Bagram. The British military has two, and civilian contractor RONCO has 12.

The breeds most suitable for mine detection are German shepherd, Dutch shepherd and Belgium Malinois, said Tom McCormick, dog trainer with Global Training Academy in Somerset, Texas. Global Training trained the dogs at Bagram.

It's best to train them before they're 2 years old, McCormick said. The dogs typically work seven to nine years. When a dog is retired, its handler has first dibs to adopt it. Dogs that are not adopted live in the kennel at Global Training.

Global Training buys its mine dogs from Holland for $1,500 to $2,000 each. Most dogs go through about six months of initial training, during which they're taught to recognize and look for the smell of explosives. They're also trained to work on the 10-meter leashes they wear in the field.

Dog handlers are then brought in for more training. Trainers try to match dogs to the right handler, McCormick said. This is also when dog and handler bond. If the handler is sick, his dog doesn't work.

In that same way, the handler doesn't work without his dog.

Daily work

The dogs at Bagram trained in Texas for two months and for another two months at Fort Leonard Wood before traveling to Bagram, where they trained for another month before going into a live minefield.

Because the dogs are from Holland, the handlers speak Dutch and some English to the dogs.

"Oft" means sit. "Bleiven" means stay. "Platz" means heel at the handler's side. "Suk" means seek, and "zweigen" means be quiet.

The challenge of working with dogs is they need a lot of repetition, McCormick said. "It's like a child," he said. "You have to keep training and training and training."

It's important to know your dog's behavior and working pattern because the dog can't talk, said Pfc. Jason Lavallee of the 67th detachment. Lavallee works with Rex 6.

"Your tone of voice and your attitude travels down the leash," he said. "You have to learn to read your dog."

For example, if Rex 6 looks back at Lavallee from a minefield, he's either trying to cheat or he smells something that he can't pinpoint. If he circles around an area, Lavallee knows his dog has found an explosive.

A gentle touch

Working with dogs has its perks.

The handlers bathe, groom and care for their dogs. They feed the dogs Science Diet food and purified water.

"It's easier to build a rapport," Lavallee said. "Right now, he's more interested in pleasing me more than anyone else."

Lavallee and Rex 6 spend four or five hours a day working before Rex 6 goes back to his kennel. Lavallee then takes Rex 6 for a walk before he's allowed into Lavallee's hut. Rex sometimes falls asleep with Lavallee.

"I love dogs," Lavallee said. "That's why I volunteered for this. I'd take him home with me if I could, but I have a pit bull and two poodles. They don't get along."

At Bagram, a veterinarian is on call around the clock. The vet also visits the dogs' kennel every month. The most common ailments are broken toenails and cut paws. German shepherds also are prone to hip dysphasia and deterioration of the spine, McCormick said.

Another hazard is the fine dust that covers Bagram. "Sometimes they sneeze, just like we do," McCormick said. "That micro dust is not something good to work with."

Each dog goes through two or three practice sessions daily before they are allowed into a minefield.

If a dog doesn't pass its daily test, it isn't allowed into the minefield that day.

"You've got to train them continuously so they'll only improve," McCormick said. "(They're) just one tool to try to get the job done. It's faster than manual clearance."

_______________________________________________

Air Force Staff Sgt. Cleophus R. Gallon, a I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group dog handler and a Miami native, portrays an aggressor while Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen W. Hodson demonstrates Tina's aggression detection for a crowd of onlookers July 26, 2004 at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. The demonstration was held to mark the opening of a new kennel facility for the dogs. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord

Dog kennel opens for MHG canines

Submitted by:	I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by:	Computed Name: Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord
Story Identification #:	200489135057

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Aug., 09, 2004) -- Few service members have to worry about taking their roommates on walks or bathroom breaks.

Now dog handlers at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, can rest easy knowing their four-legged coworkers have a new kennel to call home, with the only bright, green grass on the base.

"We'll be here for a significant amount of time with canine support, so we felt we needed long-term billeting," said Gunnery Sgt. William H. Kartune, the I Marine Expeditionary Force kennel master.

The handlers put on a demonstration July 26, inviting personnel at Camp Fallujah to see the dogs in action at their new kennel. The demonstration attracted a large crowd of onlookers, while the handlers directed the military working dogs to take down mock "suspects" in large, padded suits.

"We mostly work entry control points, searching all the contractor vehicles and civilian vehicles that are coming on base," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cleophus Gallon, an augment from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces Europe. "(The handler and dog are) partners - we're a team. Where he's sniffing, I'm looking. It makes you look places you normally wouldn't."

It's these qualities that make military working dogs prized weapons in the fight against anti-Iraqi forces.

"There is good coordination between the dog and the instructor," said Lt. Col. Amer A. Ahmad, an officer with the Iraqi Special Forces who attended the demonstration. "I would definitely love to use them because they're good for sniffing bombs at vehicle checkpoints."

The airmen also accompany Marine units on sweeps for improvised explosive devices, a major hazard to convoys on Iraq's major supply routes.

"We've been out on patrol... a few times," said Gallon, one of four Air Force dog handlers assigned to the I MEF Headquarters Group. "Most times, we go together as a squad, so if a dog handler goes down, someone's there to secure (the dog), grab his leash."

And while the airmen are armed, just like a Marine, a dog handler's primary weapon isn't his rifle.

"He's not going out there with his weapon up," Gallon said while mimicking holding a rifle at the ready. "He has to hold the leash and watch what the dog's doing."

But the handlers don't seem to mind.

"It gives me a great adrenaline rush," said Cpl. Jose R. Chavez, a dog handler assigned to Regimental Combat Team 1. "I've got that great weapon - you feel like you can take on pretty much any challenge."

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K-9s receive top care in deployed environment


	SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Jonathan Eha carries Mathys, a military working dog, during a recent exercise at a forward-deployed location. They are assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. (Courtesy photo)
	Download HiRes

by Senior Airman Nicole Spence
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

10/12/2004 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- In a 110-degree, sandy environment at a forward-deployed location, how does the mission go on when a military working dog is down? As with any combat zone, there are only so many things Airmen can do without the K-9s in place.

Keeping the dogs in good health is a top priority, and that responsibility reaches further then many expect, officials said. Veterinarians, contingency aeromedical staging facility members, flying crews and dentists are some people who help keep these mission-essential animals in top shape.

Veterinarians play an important role in preventative health measures by providing full exams about once every two weeks; however, the military working dogs receive daily health checks from their handlers, said Staff Sgt. Lloyd Evens, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron kennel master.

A lot of the responsibility falls on the dog’s handler to notice any potential problems. That was the case with Tech. Sgt. John Vanderdrink, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron handler for his dog, Basco.

Sergeant Vanderdrink noticed his companion had a fractured tooth; something military working dogs are particularly susceptible to because of the nature of their job.

Dogs can damage their teeth by biting hard objects which results in the tooth’s nerve being exposed, said Lt. Col. (Dr.) David Nunez, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group dentist.

“Veterinary medicine has a sub-specialty of veterinary dentistry; however, those specialists are not as widespread as human dentists. Therefore, occasionally, a human dentist is asked to perform these procedures instead,” Dr. Nunez said.

That is what happened for Basco when Dr. Nunez completed a root canal for him. Luckily, Basco was only out for a day after the root canal and was performing at 100 percent the next day, Sergeant Evens said.

Because of Sergeant Vanderdrink’s careful eye and the quick thinking of the medics, Basco did not have to be medically evacuated to Germany for treatment.

“Usually we can take care of them (locally), but if there is a severe problem that we don’t have the tools for, that’s when we have to med-evac them. We’ve med-evaced two dogs in the past eight months,” said Army Sgt. Mitzie Porter, 993rd Medical Detachment veterinarian technician.

“I really love every aspect of working with the dogs, and when it comes to their health, they are viewed as important as any Soldier or Airman,” Sergeant Porter said.

“The dog’s health is extremely important; without them, we would lose a huge force multiplier and that extra notch of security,” Sergeant Evens said.

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K-9 Marines augment Secret Service during 59th General Assembly
Submitted by: New York City Public Affairs
Story Identification #: 200410716511
Story by Cpl. Beth Zimmerman

NEW YORK (Oct. 7, 2004) -- As dignitaries from all over the world gathered in New York City last month for the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations, New Yorkers saw a visible security increase in Manhattan. A large chunk of the security puzzle featured canine units from the United States Secret Service. The Secret Service also brought in canine teams from all over the Department of Defense, including each branch of service, for the duration of the assembly.

The Marine Corps sent four canine teams to New York to join the men in black.

"It's amazing to me that the Marine Corps will entrust a 23-year-old Marine to go up there and do that," said Sgt. Brian Burgess, K-9 Kennel Master for Marine Helicopter Squadron-1 (HMX-1) at Quantico, Va., who spoke on his personal experience participating. "It's even more amazing that the Secret Service would request that."

However, the Secret Service thinks nothing of turning to DoD for help.

"We've always used the military," said Charles Bopp, a spokesperson from the Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. "We rely on the long-standing partnership of all the military for many of our missions."

A large part of the Secret Service's mission includes safeguarding the nation's highest elected officials and visiting foreign dignitaries. At the General Assembly, the additional canine units came in handy at different points all over the city.

"We searched all of the dignitaries' baggage," said Burgess, who worked with his Military Working Dog "Rocky" out of John F. Kennedy Airport. "Whenever they flew into JFK, they would have cars waiting to pick them up," he said. "The people in the motorcade would take everything out (of their cars) and line it up on the sidewalk," said the Huntsville, Texas, native. "We would go down the line with our dogs and check them for explosives."

In another part of the city, Cpl. Darin Cleveringa and his MWD "Rek" worked off of 5th Avenue, outside a hotel where some of the dignitaries stayed.

"We'd check any vehicle that tried to park in the hotel parking lot where the dignitaries were staying," said Cleveringa, who is the Chief Canine Trainer at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif.

Cleveringa also said it was important to have canine units in public areas during the assembly.

"The sight of the dogs usually kills any plans anyone (with bad intentions) may have," said Cleveringa. "They see the dogs and they figure they won't get through our checkpoints."

Still, working in New York City was an experience for the Marines.

"I saw all the kings and dignitaries from other countries," said Burgess. He remembered one who lost his cool outside the airport. "His driver with all of his baggage was late getting to the airport for the King's departure," said Burgess. "And they couldn't leave until we cleared all the baggage."

"The King got out of his vehicle with his robes on, and was ranting and raving because we were holding up his departure," he said. "It was crazy."

Overall, the Marines said each day they worked in New York was "just another 12-hour shift."

"It was cool saying I got to work for the Secret Service," said Cleveringa.

"But I was just doing my job."

-30-

Photos included with story:

	Sergeant Brian Burgess, Kennel Master, Marine Helicopter Squadron-1 (HMX-1), Quantico, Va., and Military Working Dog “Rocky” (C045) augmented the United States Secret Service during the General Assembly last month in New York City. Three other Marine Corps canine teams also worked the event. Photo by: Cpl. Jonathan Agg

	Corporal Darin Cleveringa, Chief K-9 Trainer for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, poses with his Military Working Dog “Rek” (D244) on Barstow. Cleveringa and Rek made up one of four Marine Corps canine teams that augmented the Secret Service during the General Assembly last month. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Christopher Clark

	Marine Corps Military Working Dog “Rocky” (C045) inspects luggage during an explosives detections training session at the K-9 Kennel at Marine Helicopter Squadron-1 (HMX-1) in Quantico, Va. Sgt. Brian Burgess (background), HMX-1 Kennel Master, and Rocky augmented the United States Secret Service during the General Assembly last month in New York City. Three other Marine Corps canine teams also worked the event. Photo by: Cpl. Jonathan Agg

	Corporal Darin Cleveringa, Chief K-9 Trainer for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., works with his Military Working Dog “Rek” (D244) in Barstow. Cleveringa and Rek made up one of four Marine Corps canine teams that augmented the Secret Service during the General Assembly last month. Photo by: Cpl. Andy J. Hurt

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Military working dog aerovaced after operation, hospitalization


	Canine aerovac SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Timothy Cox carries his military working dog, Ronny, to a C-130 Hercules on Aug. 22 for an aeromedical evacuation to Germany. Ronny was diagnosed with pericardial effusion, an unnatural collection of fluid around his heart that began interfering with the heart's functioning. Sergeant Cox and Ronny are assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a forward-deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lee Tucker) Download Full Image

by 1st Lt. Kelley Jeter
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2004 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Tim Cox and military working dog, Ronny, have been partners for more than two years, so when the canine cop fell ill on the job recently, Sergeant Cox instantly recognized a problem.

“He just had a complete change of attitude,” Sergeant Cox said. “He got very lethargic and wasn’t himself at all.”

Ronny’s change in behavior was a red flag that he needed immediate medical attention, and he was taken to a veterinary facility in a city near a forward-deployed location. The veterinarian discovered Ronny had a relatively common malady for large-breed dogs called pericardial effusion. It is an unnatural collection of fluid around his heart that began interfering with the heart’s functioning. He was immediately operated on.

“He was put into the equivalent of doggie ICU for three days,” said Maj. David Blocker, 380th Expeditionary Medical Group’s aerospace medicine chief.

Ronny’s heartbeat was irregular for two days after the emergency procedure, which drained the excess fluid off his heart. He was hooked up to a heart monitor, put on oxygen and closely observed until he was out of the danger zone.

Army Capt. (Dr.) Todd Bell, a veterinarian assigned to Navy Central Command headquarters, was summoned to assess Ronny’s condition and assist in a medical evacuation if needed.

“This condition will often resurface six to eight weeks after the initial episode,” Dr. Bell said.

The possibility of Ronny getting sick again cemented the decision to send him to Germany, where he could get a specialty evaluation and maybe a special surgery to permanently fix the condition.

Major Blocker has arranged plenty of aeromedical evacuations for people, but said this was his first experience with moving a sick dog. The aerovac system requires frequent stops and medical re-evaluation to guarantee that people will have the medical care they need available in flight and at every step along the way.

“People may often go home for medical reasons, but not all of them need medical care en route,” he said.

Many can be sent home commercially or on a military rotator and will usually make it home anywhere from five to seven days sooner than if they are locked into the aerovac system.

Unlike people, medics have very few options with regard to moving sick dogs. Ronny needed the constant presence of health-care professionals and a trained eye to watch his condition, should it change; that made aerovac the ideal choice. Military working dogs like Ronny are considered to be active-duty servicemembers eligible for aerovac.

To get him safely to Germany for further triage, Ronny was escorted by Dr. Bell and Sergeant Cox on a special aerovac flight Aug. 22. From there, they will decide whether to treat him in Germany, or to send him home to Texas to get treated.

Sergeant Cox and Ronny are both deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, but the treatment facility for military working dogs is at Lackland AFB, Texas. They were assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here, when Sergeant Cox and Ronny worked at the vehicle search area checking incoming vehicles for explosives.

Military working dogs’ training can run anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 before they are ready to work. Training them to sniff out drugs or explosives, and teaching them to attack on command helps keep servicemembers and assets safe from outside threats.

After Ronny’s evaluation and possible surgery, he will have about 30 days to recover, and he will be back home and working at the job he has been trained to do.

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Dog kennel opens for MHG canines
Submitted by: I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story Identification #: 200489135057
Story by Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Few service members have to worry about taking their roommates on walks or bathroom breaks.

Now dog handlers at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, can rest easy knowing their four-legged coworkers have a new kennel to call home, with the only bright, green grass on the base.

"We'll be here for a significant amount of time with canine support, so we felt we needed long-term billeting," said Gunnery Sgt. William H. Kartune, the I Marine Expeditionary Force kennel master.

The handlers put on a demonstration July 26, inviting personnel at Camp Fallujah to see the dogs in action at their new kennel. The demonstration attracted a large crowd of onlookers, while the handlers directed the military working dogs to take down mock "suspects" in large, padded suits.

"We mostly work entry control points, searching all the contractor vehicles and civilian vehicles that are coming on base," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cleophus Gallon, an augment from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces Europe. "(The handler and dog are) partners - we're a team. Where he's sniffing, I'm looking. It makes you look places you normally wouldn't."

It's these qualities that make military working dogs prized weapons in the fight against anti-Iraqi forces.

"There is good coordination between the dog and the instructor," said Lt. Col. Amer A. Ahmad, an officer with the Iraqi Special Forces who attended the demonstration. "I would definitely love to use them because they're good for sniffing bombs at vehicle checkpoints."

The airmen also accompany Marine units on sweeps for improvised explosive devices, a major hazard to convoys on Iraq's major supply routes.

"We've been out on patrol... a few times," said Gallon, one of four Air Force dog handlers assigned to the I MEF Headquarters Group. "Most times, we go together as a squad, so if a dog handler goes down, someone's there to secure (the dog), grab his leash."

And while the airmen are armed, just like a Marine, a dog handler's primary weapon isn't his rifle.

"He's not going out there with his weapon up," Gallon said while mimicking holding a rifle at the ready. "He has to hold the leash and watch what the dog's doing."

But the handlers don't seem to mind.

"It gives me a great adrenaline rush," said Cpl. Jose R. Chavez, a dog handler assigned to Regimental Combat Team 1. "I've got that great weapon - you feel like you can take on pretty much any challenge."

-30-

Photos included with story:

	Lt. Col. Amer A. Ahmad, an officer with the Iraqi Special Forces, watches a military working dog demonstration July 26, 2004 at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. The demonstration was held to mark the opening of a new kennel facility for the dogs. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord

	Cpl. Jose R. Chavez, a Regimental Combat Team 1 dog handler, and Lukie relax after demonstrating for onlookers military working dogs' capabilities July 26, 2004 at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. The demonstration was held to mark the opening of a new kennel facility for the dogs. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord

	Air Force Staff Sgt. Cleophus R. Gallon, a I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group dog handler and a Miami native, portrays an aggressor while Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen W. Hodson demonstrates Tina's aggression detection for a crowd of onlookers July 26, 2004 at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. The demonstration was held to mark the opening of a new kennel facility for the dogs. Photo by: Lance Cpl. J.C. Guibord
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Cpl. Donald R. Paldino and Cpl. Darin Cleveringa, both military policeman attached to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, pause for a moment from their dogs Santo and Rek at an outpost near Fallujah. The handlers must take active measures to keep the dogs cool in the baking Iraqi sun.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen) Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen
Working dogs fight heat to fight terrorism
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200471764823
Story by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (July 16, 2004) -- The hanging, drooling tongues of Santo and Rek, two military working dogs, is all the proof needed to show that the dog days of summer are here in Iraq.

Fortunately for dogs assigned to Regimental Combat Team 1, they've got Cpls. Donald R. Paldino and Darin Cleveringa , trained dog handlers who've partnered with the pups for more than two years. They're the Marines responsible for keeping the dogs' noses cool and moist in the hot, dry climate.

"We're constantly trying to accommodate the dogs as much possible," said Paldino, a 22-year-old military policeman from Oxford, Mass.

Paldino, deployed to Iraqi from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., has been serving with Santo, a 4-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, for two years.

"For some dogs it's okay to have a 103-degree body temperature and for others it's not," explained Cleveringa, a 22-year-old military policeman from Rock Valley, Iowa, who deployed with Rek from Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, Calif. "So we're constantly watching their body temperature because they can over-heat at any time."

Cleveringa had a close call with Rek, a German Shepherd. During a patrol, Rek's body temperature, reached 104 degrees. He was airlifted to Baghdad for medical attention.

Panting, not wanting to move and heavy breathing are common signs a dog is trying to stay cool, Cleveringa explained.

"If they start panting and breathing really fast - they're in trouble and need to be (evacuated)," Cleveringa said.

Paldino and Cleveringa concocted their own method for keeping the dogs fresh for duty. They hooked up a generator and two fans in their vehicle.

"We actually have two mist-fans that are connected to a water container and a generator that's mounted on top of the humvee," Cleveringa said. "Those fans really help a lot as long as the water is iced."

The hot weather takes a toll on the dogs and cuts into the time they're effective.

"Being out in the desert during a mission or standing-by for a patrol to kick off burns them out, which only makes them effective for shorter time," Paldino said. "It's really disappointing when we have to wait hours for a mission under the sun because then they can only sniff for about 15 minutes."

Paldino said better equipment like a hard high-back humvee - wide enough for two kennels - with an air-conditioning unit would help keep military dogs fresh and more combat effective in Iraq.

For now, they rely on more hands-on methods for cooling.

Ice vests and soaking a dog's belly, legs and head with cool water also helps keep body temperatures down.

With only a handful of veterinarians in the region, Paldino and Cleveringa found themselves working with corpsman to help ease some of the rigors.

"There just aren't too many vets around, but our 'docs' are helping out where they can," Paldino explained.

"The 'docs' have a tub they fill with water for the dogs," Cleveringa said. "One day they gave our dogs some IVs to get them fully hydrated."

According to Paldino, support for the dogs is pouring in from families and organizations back home.

"Every time we get care packages, it's never for us, it's all for the dogs," Cleveringa said. "They get more mail than we do."

Paldino and Cleveringa also spend a portion of their time sending lessons-learned back to Marine units in the United States who are preparing to deploy with working dogs.

"We're constantly calling our units back in the states about what works and what doesn't, what gear to bring and what not to bring," Cleveringa said.

"This deployment has been a huge learning lesson for us and for the next wave of K-9s," Paldino added.

_________________________________________________________________

PhotoID: 200471765144
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Operation Iraqi Freedom II

Caption:
Cpl. Donald R. Paldino and Cpl. Darin Cleveringa, both military policeman attached to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, pause for a moment from their dogs Santo and Rek at an outpost near Fallujah. The handlers must take active measures to keep the dogs cool in the baking Iraqi sun.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen)
Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

______________________________________________

Cpl. Donald R. Paldino, a military policeman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, pets his partner, Santo, a 4-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, at an outpost near Fallujah. Paldino keeps a close eye on his working dog to ensure he doesn't fall victim to the extreme heat.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen) Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

PhotoID: 200471765335
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Operation Iraqi Freedom II

Caption:
Cpl. Donald R. Paldino, a military policeman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, pets his partner, Santo, a 4-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, at an outpost near Fallujah. Paldino keeps a close eye on his working dog to ensure he doesn't fall victim to the extreme heat.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen)
Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

__________________________________________________

Cpl. Donald R. Paldino, a military policeman attached to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, gives his partner, Santo, a 4-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, time to stretch his legs at an outpost near Fallujah. Paldino ensures Sanot stay cool despite the Iraqi heat, so he's ready for the job of searching for explosives.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen) Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen
PhotoID: 200471765826
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Operation/Exercise/Event:
Operation Iraqi Freedom II

Caption:
Cpl. Donald R. Paldino, a military policeman attached to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, gives his partner, Santo, a 4-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, time to stretch his legs at an outpost near Fallujah. Paldino ensures Sanot stay cool despite the Iraqi heat, so he's ready for the job of searching for explosives.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen)
Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

Read Story Associated with this photo

Date the Photo was taken:07/16/2004
This Image has been cleared for

________________________________________________________________

Ft. Jackson programs prepares K-9s for future of warfare, defense

(Columbia) July 16, 2004 - During World War Two soldiers at Fort Jackson trained to get K-9s ready for battle. Even a gas-attack drill was part of the curriculum.

Today a new war is being fought, as Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge this month announced, "Credible reporting now indicates that al Qaeda is moving forward with plans to carry out a large scale attack in the United States ... in an effort to disrupt our democratic process," and the four-legged soldiers will play an important role.

Sgt. William Currier a military police K-9 handler says, "That is why I have the job that I have, ... and that is why we have the dogs that we have."

Since September 11th, 2001, dogs like Sgt. Currier's partner Gerda, an alert Belgian Malinois, have been in high demand from the White House to the Middle East, "It's a constant thing every single day, whether it's overseas, here in the States, the dogs are needed for searching and clearing."

Currier is part of Fort Jackson's new K-9 team. He and Gerda are training to detect explosive devices planted at a currently vacant school on post. Gerda's reward for a find is a tasty chew toy, but both know it is not play time, "Soon we will be called to do a mission."

And, searches will be a big part of that mission, "Be it vehicles coming into a base camp or a VIP building or they could be going out on the missions for patrol."

Along with fighting terrorism the Fort Jackson K-9 teams could take part in election year events and presidential missions. They are also available to help out civilian law enforcement agencies in this community.

Sgt. Currier has already spent time in Afghanistan. He and his K-9 Nessy were part of the Fort Knox team when they served in the Middle East together in 2002. They worked at airfields in Kandahar and Bagrahm.

Back at Fort Jackson three of the K-9 team's four dogs go through obedience training, and learn to attack on command or when the dog or handler is threatened. Currier says, "We're a new team, and we're getting better and better everyday."

The dogs' and handlers' first responsibility is to protect Fort Jackson. Two teams will always remain there. The goal is to get six more dogs for a total of ten to be based at Fort Jackson in the near future. There are already military K-9 training programs in South Carolina at the Shaw and Charleston Air Force Bases and Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.

by Rebecca Pepin

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Former military dog handler fights for war dogs

Reporting by Rebecca Pepin

(Undated) July 15, 2004 - One former military dog handler is now on a crusade to raise awareness about the four-legged heroes and their sacrifice.

Johnny Mayo, a Vietnam War dog handler, says it was a friendship that wasn't supposed to end the way it did, "You're closer to your dog than any human. Every step you take is in his footsteps."

Mayo, of Lexington, shared that intense bond with two dogs while serving on the front lines together in Vietnam, "This is a picture of my first mission September 1970."

Mayo says he served the first mission alongside an intelligent German Shepherd named Tiger, "We were the closest buddies and our lives depended on his abilities."

He says ground troops landing in hot zones relied heavily on the focused war dogs to lead the pack, "If they were expecting a lot of heavily booby-trapped areas they would call us out."

K-9s were also able to sniff out the enemy, but Mayo says the method wasn't foolproof, "Often the enemy would fire before the alert was given."

Mayo says 367 dogs were killed in action in Vietnam. His pal Tiger was one of them, "I was about 37 feet from him when he hit the trip wire."

Tiger survived the explosion, but later died from infection in his wounds.

Mayo was later assigned a new partner, Kelly. The two became fast friends.

Mayo remembers how the normally non-aggressive dog would do anything to protect his handler, "If you came near me, day or night, always get my attention because Kelly's going after you."

Army scout dogs were trained not to bark. Mayo says Kelly's ears would stand straight up and he would stop if danger crossed his path.

Military analysts have estimated war dogs saved more than 10,000 lives in Vietnam, but about half of all the dogs that served did not return to the US.

Mayo says that at the end of the war the Army considered the K-9s surplus equipment that could potential carry diseases. Two-thousand of them were put to sleep, "There was no contingency plan for the dogs to be re-deployed."

Mayo and other handlers felt that these true American heroes had been betrayed, "Many of them had just no aggression and would have been great family pets for the rest of their lives."

Because of the efforts of Vietnam dog handlers' efforts, a bill passed in 2000 that allows the adoption of retired military dogs.

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Military working dog sniffs out suspicious vehicle in Florida


	PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Staff Sgt. Brian A Disorbo and his partner, Pancho, respond to a call. Both are assigned to the 45th Security Forces Squadron here. (Courtesy photo)
	Download HiRes

by Sue Walden
45th Space Wing Public Affairs

7/13/2004 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- A four-legged 45th Security Forces member did his job correctly but caused quite a stir here July 8.

While doing his daily sniffing around inbound trucks at the truck inspection area at the base’s south gate, Pancho, a 7-year-old military working dog, alerted his handler to a suspicious vehicle.

Immediately after the alert, experts from the 45th Space Wing's explosive ordnance disposal team, fire department and security forces responded to the scene. For security purposes, the gate was closed and a portion of the nearby road and causeway closed for about an hour and 15 minutes.

After a thorough and extensive search of the truck and its flatbed trailer, no explosive devices were detected. But Pancho was correct -- he smelled residual black powder from the truck. According to the vehicle's driver, the truck had recently carried fireworks.

"Pancho is smart and has a high drive to please his handler," said Staff Sgt. Brian Disorbo, who has spent the last three years training the Belgian malinois. "I never have any doubt about accomplishing the mission when working with Pancho."

Capt. Cheryl Morgan, a 45th SFS operations officer, said security forces will always err on the side of caution when a military working dog alerts handlers.

"We realize that closing certain roads can be an inconvenience to drivers in the area, but it is done with everyone's safety and security in mind, including the civilians in the community," she said. (Capt. Susan A. Romano contributed to this article.)

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Bill Castle looks over one of his air-conditioned dog houses. (Wally Shank/The Sentinel)

Cool K-9s

The Sentinel

By Kristin Wilson, May 20, 2004

With temperatures in Iraq soaring above 100 degrees, soldiers aren't the only ones looking for a break from the heat these days.

A dozen air-conditioned dog cages, specially designed for military bomb-sniffing dogs, are on their way to the Middle East.

Their origin? Cumberland County.

Bill Castle, owner of Castle's K-9 Inc. in Monroe Township, has been working on a design for 32-square-foot cages made of aluminum with a connection to an AC unit.

He says there's nothing similar on the market.

"It's the only one like it in the country," he says.

Destination undisclosed

Castle says he's been working with an outsourcing security company, Blackwater USA, providing bomb-sniffing dogs. Many of them have gone on to work in Iraq.

The company recently came to him and asked if he could design a housing unit for the dogs that would keep them cool in desert conditions.

"They're having trouble housing dogs over there," Castle says.

His "cage" is much larger than the average dog kennel and can fold down for easy transport. "It keeps (the dogs) off the ground. It keeps them out of the heat."

Michael Bedard, K-9 director for Blackwater, says security considerations prohibit him from saying where the AC cages will be going.

"All I can tell you is that they're going across the pond."

"(The cages) would give the dogs a secure place to be — and air-conditioned," Bedard says.

"It can be broken down and reconstructed fairly easily."

Bedard says his company has sent about 30 dogs for bomb-sniffing, security and protection operations to the Middle East over the past eight months.

A national animal-rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says hot weather can be deadly for dogs because they cannot sweat through their skin.

Heatstroke can come on quickly in dogs, resulting in brain damage and death," the organization says.

And even when it's not life-threatening, "(heat) drains them," Castle says of the dogs. "You can't work (the dogs) as long."

'Nobody special'

Castle says he has designed regular cages, car cages for police dogs and training equipment while working with dogs over the past 35 years.

He is a former police chief who has been in business for 24 years.

He takes his design accomplishment all in stride. "I take it as another day on the farm. I'm nobody special. Sure I'm proud of (the design). I did something that might save people's lives."

He says he carries the "cheapest cages in the country."

The air-conditioned units are going for $1,700 a piece.

____________________________________________________

Honors, treats all around for soldiers' best friends
They helped soldiers in Iraq. They received awards for their heroism. They bark and chase Frisbees.

http://www.dailypress.com/

BY SARAH VAN SCHAGEN

Published June 4, 2004

FORT MONROE -- They went to Iraq to search checkpoints, clear buildings and help with security. They're back now, and their superiors call them heroes.

Thursday, their long, pink tongues hung over the side of their sharp teeth as they waited to get their awards.


		CANINES WITH COURAGE

They are three dogs: Nousca, a 10-year-old Malinois, Rex, a 3-year-old German shepherd, and Nessy, a 7-year-old German shepherd, received the ProHeart Hero Award for their heroics in Iraq.

With a gold medallion inscribed with the word "HERO" hanging around her neck, Nousca sat patiently beside her handler, Staff Sgt. Richard L. Saucier Jr., while the other dogs received their awards. Dressed in uniform, a black cape with the word "POLICE" written in white letters, she looked ready for anything as she watched her handler's movements.

Nousca is based at a kennel in Fort Knox, Ky., but for six months last year, she was deployed with Saucier in Iraq. Nousca's duties involved searching checkpoints, clearing buildings and maintaining security. She's trained to find explosives and narcotics, but she also serves as a psychological deterrent.

"The dogs are extremely valuable," Saucier said. "Without them, we couldn't have done our mission. The mission would have been incomplete."

The military working dogs are trained at a facility in Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where they are trained for as much as three months, as are their handlers.

The big black ears that give the dogs their enhanced sense of hearing also give the handlers an indication of how the dog is feeling. Saucier can tell, for example, whether Nousca is nervous, anxious or just excited by the way her tail moves and how she breathes.

The dogs also get time off to play with their handlers, chasing a ball in the grass or playing with a Frisbee. Nousca's reward for finding explosives during training is a Kong, a thick rubber toy she likes to chew.

After Thursday's ceremony, the dogs and their handlers gave a demonstration at a softball field. Sgt. First Class Timothy Dawson, the program manager for the military canines in 12 kennels across the U.S., played the suspect as Rex and his handler Sgt. Carey A. Ford practiced an interview and attack.

The only thing between Dawson and the razor-sharp teeth of the German shepherd running toward him was a bite sleeve covering his left arm. A plastic canister covered in synthetic burlap, the bite sleeve helps protect the trainer from the dog's tight grip.

As Rex trained in the field with Dawson and Ford, the two other dogs whined and barked from within the large white vans marked "Caution: Military Working Dogs," as if they, too, wanted to play.

Like many dogs, they respond to commands such as "sit" and "stay," but they are also trained to attack - and release - on command. These canine soldiers are on alert at all times, protecting their handler by attacking a suspect who makes any sudden movements.

Describing their work as 80 percent dog and 20 percent handler, Nessy's partner Sgt. William J. Currier said the humans may be on one end of the leash, but it's the dogs who are working hardest.

"Without the dogs," he said, "we can't really do our job."

_________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, June 2, 2004

http://www.desertdispatch.com

Dogs risk dangers overseas - Canine units trained at Fort Irwin prepare to

assist in combat zones

By IAN MORRISON/Staff Writer

FORT IRWIN -- Staff Sgt. Regina Johnson, the Kennel Master at Fort Irwin,

has four paws tattooed on her left ankle and likes to warn visitors to watch

out for hairs on the "dog's couch."

Photo provided by James Johnson

Staff Sgt. Regina Johnson, kennel master at Fort Irwin, takes a break with

her dog Fido while she was stationed in Saudi Arabia.

She has spent the last six years training dogs and their handlers to sniff

out bombs or drugs and defend their country.

And every so often, a dog receives orders from on high in the chain of

command to get ready for deployment.

Rocky, a bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois, shipped out May 29 to Iraq.

"They're the most in demand," she said.

Johnson and her dog, Fido, did a tour of duty in Iraq from March 2003 to

this past April, she said. They participated in a variety of defensive

activities such as checking cars for bombs and clearing parking lots of any

threats from explosive devices for visiting international officials.

Under her tutelage, seven dog teams, consisting of one dog and a soldier

specifically trained to handle the animal, undergo a rigorous regimen of

training. They not only prepare for deployment but also help military police

at Fort Irwin with such tasks as checking barracks for drugs. She said the

dog teams often also help local law enforcement authorities with bomb

scares.

"These dogs are so versatile," she said. "They amaze me everyday with what

they can do."

The handlers also go through an extensive amount of training. The dog team

has to take a yearly test and be certified by a kennel master from another

post. In addition, handlers lost their certification if they spend more than

45 days apart from their dog.

"This is not a nine-to-five job," she said. "It's so much like having

children."

The army employs three different breeds of dogs, including German Shepherds

and Dutch Shepherds. At the moment, the kennel at Fort Irwin contains three

dogs trained to sniff out bombs and four dogs employed to detect drugs.

She said the dogs trained to search for drugs do not get deployed to combat

zones. Instead, the Army uses them to look for drugs on part or loans them

to other government agencies. The Secret Service recently employed a Fort

Irwin dog team to help their agents search for drugs coming through the

United States border in El Paso, Texas, Johnson said.

Johnson said she loves her job, but she hates to separate from her dogs,

either when they are retired from active duty or if they pass away.

"It's just horrible," she said. "Every dog I've ever had has taught me

something."

Johnson has had six different dogs over her tenure as kennel master.

She said she does not know of any deployed dogs killed in combat, but there

are dangers.

"The environment can sometimes be too harsh and the dog deteriorates," she

said. "That's been continuous."

For example, a dog may not be able to handle the heat and have to be sent

home. In some cases, the dog may "bloat" and either die or have to be

euthanized. "Bloat" is a condition where the dog's stomach "turns." A dog

will be called to duty too soon after eating, work under the sun, and their

stomachs will in essence contort in a different direction, fill with air and

kill the animal, she said.

Unfortunately, canine units get very little respect, she said. Dogs can't

train out in the open like other soldiers, nor can they interact with humans

other than their handlers.

And there's also been a lot of negative media attention surrounding the

recently uncovered pictures of alleged Iraqi prisoner abuse. Many of the

photos prominently feature armed forces-trained dogs in aggressive

positions, she said.

"There's been a lot of bad publicity," she said.

Dogs are retired when Johnson, or any kennel master, feels that it is no

longer humane to have the dog work out in the field. If a dog is retired, it

goes through a series of tests to see whether or not it can be put up for

adoption and take part in civilian life.

Johnson owns one retired dog and she plans to get more, she said.

And if a dog dies, she said, the kennel has a canine cemetery on its grounds

to offer the animals a memorial.

"They don't get much recognition, which is the sad part," she said. "Dogs

are the best tools the army has."

The cemetery is located right behind the facilities' obstacle course, where

Johnson plans to keep training as many dog teams as she can, she said.

"It can be hard," she said. "But this is the best job in the world."

___________________________________________________________________

http://www.estripes.com
Friday, May 21, 2004

Dogs unleashed in inaugural competition

By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, May 21, 2004

Joseph Giordono / S&S
Indy, a military working dog, bites Sgt. Ryan Martin during the "controlled aggression" phase of the first U.S. Forces Korea Military Working Dog competition.

Joseph Giordono / S&S
A handler calls in his canine, Indy, during the "controlled aggression" phase of the first U.S. Forces Korea Military Working Dog competition Wednesday at Yongsan Garrison.

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Sgt. Antonio Rivera of the 728th Military Police Battalion knows what it’s like to be on both ends of a barking, biting military working dog.

As an explosives patrol dog handler, he put his partner, Nero, though the paces of a bomb detection drill. Then, as a “decoy,” he was on the business end of Monzo, a military working dog completing a standoff and bite drill.

“It’s still intimidating, kind of scary to see the dog run at you,” he said Wednesday during a break from the first of what officials hope will become the annual U.S. Forces Korea Military Working Dog Competition.

Rivera and his canine were among 10 teams competing this week in the competition, which included eight U.S. military teams and two South Korean customs and police teams.

Over four days, the teams competed in various specialties such as narcotics and explosives detection in buildings and vehicles, endurance and fitness tests, obedience checks and “controlled aggression.”

Winners were to be announced Thursday evening.

Controlled aggression showcased how handlers can turn their dogs loose on a suspect, then either order them to bite or simply create a standoff. It is the “bread and butter” of the military working dog, officials said.

“That’s the show-stopper. That’s what everyone wants to see. And it’s the most exciting for the dog also, because they get to get off the leash and run,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Billo, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Yongsan Garrison military working dog kennels.

From drug-sniffing dogs on the U.S. borders to bomb-sniffing dogs in Iraq and patrol dogs in South Korea, thousands of canines are put to use by the military. Dogs and handlers all are trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Military working dogs go through a complete physical every six months, officials said, and the average lifespan has increased from about eight years to 11 years. And when the dogs reach the end of their service lives, a new law allows the dogs to be put up for adoption.

Public Law 106-446 now makes Department of Defense military working dogs available for adoption by law enforcement agencies, former handlers and others.

___________________________________________________________

Sgt. Wilfred K. Porras, military police, K9 handler, and his military working dog, Kwinto share a bonding momment. Porras and Kwinto are preparing to deploy this year. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Skye Jones
Military police, K-9 partners work hand in hand
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 200456143357
Story by Lance Cpl. Skye Jones

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(May 6, 2004) -- The Belgian Malinois, which some may say sounds like a foreign body part, is a war-fighting tool that is highly capable of breaking human bones.

The Malinois is actually a working dog that will defend its master until the end. The characteristics of a Malinois include alertness, devotion, intensity, and vigilance - characteristics that can compare to those of a real "devil dog."

Sgt. Wilfred K. Porras and his partner in justice, Kwinto, work together to benefit the Marine Corps.

"We aid the Corps by being ready to go at any given time," said the North Bergen, N.J., native. "When the Corps needs us, Kwinto and I are set for that mission."

Kwinto and his K-9 handler have deployed to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, twice in the past two years since they've been working with each other. In addition, they have successfully accomplished two Presidential secret service missions.

Porras said training is a must in order to prepare for all types of operations he and his partner may be called up for.

"When we're not patrolling, we're training," he added.

"We try to train as realistically as possible and in every environment so the handler and dog will feel confident enough for any mission," said Mabank, Texas, native Staff Sgt. Heath L. Kinder, K-9 kennel master.

Every military working dog and future partner in protecting crime must complete three parts of training, the first being the five phases of aggression training.

First, a Marine and his dog must conduct a field interview. A person will come within one arms distance from the two, and the dog must sit and refrain from attacking.

"If I come in close contact with a person, I need to ensure that Kwinto will not bite them. These dogs are very handler protective," explained Porras.

The second phase is called a "false run into a bite."

"If I'm on patrol and I ask someone for their identification and they do not comply, I will give them a warning. If they run, I will unleash Kwinto," described Porras.

The third phase of training, explained Porras, is a stand off. If a person runs but then shouts, "I give up!" a command to cease the attack will be ordered. Next is the search phase. The dog will go up to a person and the command to "stay" will be vocalized while the person is searched.

Lastly, the team will conduct escort training. If after the search the suspect is apprehended, the dog will have to heal and watch the person without biting.

"I know Kwinto has my back. If someone is behind me, he'll warn me," said Porras. "He protects me. He'll save my life and other people's lives."

After aggression training is complete, the dogs go through detection training which includes building and area searches.

First, explained Porras, he challenges the building and shouts, "Show yourself or I'll release my dog." If there is no response he tells Kwinto to "Find 'em!" Kwinto will then go in the structure and search for the suspect and clear the building.

This type of training, he added, comes in handy.

"Take this past month for example. We conducted an explosive detection at the commissary and exchange. Both buildings had to be cleared because we received a bomb threat," mentioned Porras.

Conducting an area search is just as important, he explained, and can be held anywhere from a field, park or an open lot.

The third and final category of training is obedience instruction. This includes going through the obstacle course, which is located at the K-9 building. Commands as basic as "sit" and "heal" are taught as well.

"In order for Kwinto and I to become a team, we have to prove ourselves worthy," said Porras. "Every new military working dog team must get certified."

The Provost Marshal will verify if the team is ready to work together. To demonstrate their capabilities, they will have to pass a test. A realistic scenario will be set up, and the two will have to tackle the task at hand. Explosive dogs will have to detect all of the bombs in the building and narcotic dogs will have to find all the drugs. Once certified, the Marine and his dog become a K-9 unit.

"They make a great team," mentioned Ellsworth, Mich., native Cpl. Michael J. Rubingh, military police and working dog handler. "They both rely on each other."

Porras said the age-old saying dogs are a "man's best friend" holds true in his case.

"He's my partner and buddy," concluded Porras.

-30-

Photos included with story:

Sgt. Wilfred K. Porras, military police, K9 handler, and his military working dog, Kwinto share a bonding momment. Porras and Kwinto are preparing to deploy this year. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Skye Jones

___________________________________________________________________

Sierra Vista Herald

A soldier's farewell; Military police dog on fort remembered for his service

BY BILL HESS
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 12:53 PM MDT

Herald/Review

FORT HUACHUCA - He had a short life, taking his first breath on Oct. 21, 2000, and his last on April 9 of this year.

He was a GI, in the real sense of being government issued.

But to the men and women of the 18th Military Police Detachment, Pike was like them a soldier - a four-footed soldier.

Alexander Pope once wrote, "His faithful dog shall bear him company."

To Staff Sgt. Clint Butler and Pfc. Matthew Shifflet, Pike was that faithful dog who accompanied them.

Butler was the animal's original handler on the post after Pike arrived from his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where all the armed services military working dogs first go.

Pike's specialties were performing duties as an explosive sniffing animal and patrolling.

Butler described the Belgian Malinois as excitable and always ready to work but who also enjoyed playing.

"To us, he was a member of the military police detachment," Butler said.

Shifflet, like Pike, was new to the Army. When he arrived on the post, the dog became his to handle.

The two-legged and four-legged partners had only been working together for a short time.

"You bond," Shifflet said, adding that making a connection with Pike was easy.

Although Shifflet could not take Pike home because he has two mutts and a German shepherd puppy, the soldier said the time he spent with his official dog was always quality time.

"He was motivated," Shifflet said.

A military working dog can be trained to do many missions, but the key thing is that the dog protects its handler's life, the soldier said.

"He had an internal switch that he could turn on and off, going from work to play and back," he said.

Pike died on an operating table during an attempt to repair a ruptured bladder, Shifflet said.

Capt. Gordon Heap, the detachment's commander, said the men and the women of the unit grieve for Pike, for like them, he was a soldier.

During the ceremony, which included a volley of rifle fire, the playing of taps, the folding of an American flag and the burial of Pike's cremains, soldiers could be heard crying and seen wiping tears away from their eyes.

Pike's final resting place is just behind the facility where he and other military working dogs were kept and trained.

Other animals from the unit also have been laid to rest near Pike's grave site. Right next to Pike's place is King, Grizzly and Prince.

SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

The above story has been posted with permission by Mr Philip Vega, Publisher.

___________________________________________________________________

Devil dogs on the job
Maintain Security
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification Number: 200432617956
Story by Cpl. Joshua A. Riffle

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(March 25, 2004) -- Military policemen have traditionally guarded the gates of Marine Corps Base Quantico; but when they need assistance with explosive or drug detection, they turn to the military working dog section for help.

The mission of the dog and handler team is to support the law enforcement of the Provost Marshal's Office in crime prevention, investigation and maintenance of good order and discipline.

The handlers and dogs train together through out the week doing explosive and narcotics detection, patrol training, or controlled aggression, said Sgt. Jonathon Stanley MWD handler.

"We also train the dogs in scouting by sending someone a couple hundred yards away in an open field, and have the dog bring us to them using only scent," said Sgt. Edward Sliwinski, dog handler, who also worked with the Special Reaction Teams for three years at Quantico.

"We don't just use scouting to find the bad guys," Sliwinski added. The dogs are also used to find lost children aboard base, or even lost personnel at the ranges.

Each dog reacts differently when it picks up on the scent of the person the team is searching for. "My dog's ears perk up, his tail starts to wag, and he starts pulling hard toward the scent," said Sliwinski. "Most dogs do the same."

Trained at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, several different types of dogs are sent to units.

According to Stanley, the dogs that come to Quantico us are either trained in explosive or drug detection. Some dogs have patrolling training in addition to their detection skills.

In order for a MWD to be patrol certified it must pass the basic obedience course, controlled aggression, scouting, and various building searches. "We do at least one of the patrol requirements on a daily basis," said Sliwinski. "I might do controlled aggression a couple times in one day, then not do it again for a week."

"The training we do is for the both of us," said Stanley, referring to the team of dog and handler. "We put our dogs in different scenarios, because we need to know how they're going to act when a certain situation arises.

"For instance," Stanley explained, "if someone leaves a door open in a building, we may get a call to do a building search prior to any one going in. We use the dogs to make sure no one is in the building. The dogs can sniff the door seam and tell if someone is on the other side without opening the door."

The primary area of responsibility of the MWD section encompasses the geographical area of Quantico. Working dog handlers can support on a case-by-case basis, requests from local agencies to respond to bomb threats off base, as long as the request doesn't interfere with the team's primary mission.

Sliwinski added, "Our main mission is to detect and deter potential crimes on base, but if we have the manpower to send a couple of Marines to support another mission and still accomplish the one we have here