Helping a different kind of vet - Kandolls adopt War Dog Benny

28 February 2008 – By Sarah A. Wise • NL Staff Writer   

News Leader



Most pet owners think their animal is special in some way. Maybe it’s their pup’s talent for fetching, or their cat’s ability to entertain itself for hours.

But what makes Debbie Kandoll’s dog Benny special is a truly unique thing indeed: Benny is a retired member of the United States military.

Debbie and her husband Mike, who live in the Pikeville area, adopted the German Shepherd earlier this year. Benny came to the Kandolls through a program that allows civilians to adopt military war dogs once they retire.

Though Benny wasn’t adopted until January of this year, Debbie said adopting a military war dog had been on her mind for several years.

She said she first heard of the program around the time it began. Though dogs had been assisting the military for decades, it wasn’t until President Bill Clinton signed a bill approving their adoption in 2000 that any of those dogs had a life beyond their service. Prior to that bill, once their service had ended, military war dogs were declared excess equipment by the military and euthanized.

Since then, Debbie had been thinking about adopting one of the dogs, but her husband wasn’t always sold on the idea.
“I grew up with animals in the house,” she said. “He grew up on a farm, where the animals always stayed outside, and didn’t like the idea of animals in the house.”

However, after Mike returned from a deployment to Iraq, Debbie said she told him if he was deployed again, she wanted to adopt a dog to keep her company while he was gone.

When things began to look like he wouldn’t be deployed again, Debbie said she began thinking about getting horses. It was then that her husband brought the idea of adopting a military war dog back to the table.

“Sometimes I say that he agreed to get the dog so I wouldn’t get horses,” she joked.

It was November 28 of last year that Mike agreed to adopt the dog, and Debbie began searching the next day. But the process, she found, is not as simple as one would think.

She had been directed to contact Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, which is where the military war dog program is based. However, she discovered through contacting the base that its more effective to contact local military bases that have a military war dog program, because they prefer to adopt dogs to local people.

After months of calling and checking, Debbie finally located Benny at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Once she adopted Benny, Debbie said she noticed an eerie coincidence that affirms her faith that God had a hand in bringing Benny to her. Benny had been declared excess by the military on November 29, the same day Debbie began her search. And though it took her a while to get connected with him, Debbie said that her adoption of Benny literally saved his life – he was on the schedule to be euthanized.

Debbie and her husband drove up to Virginia to pick up Benny on January 4. At first, the excitement was mingled with anxiety about how Benny, who had spent his entire life in a kennel, would adopt to the myriad of new situations before him.

But Benny has adjusted quite well. He loves children, new people, and other animals, which is fortunate for the Kandolls’ cat Simba who ruled the roost before Benny’s arrival.

Debbie explained that when they first got Benny, he was not a mean-spirited animal, but he was very restrained.

“Because of his training, he was very restrained,” she said. “He was like a robot-dog for the first few weeks. But as he got more comfortable, his personality began to shine through.”

Benny’s military career was ended due to a slight problem with his leg, which had been aggravated from standing on his hind legs to sniff for drugs. The problem doesn’t hinder Benny on a day-to-day basis, and Debbie said it has actually improved since adoption. Leg spasms have ceased since Benny adjusted to sleeping on soft cushions rather than concrete floors.

Overall, Debbie said she is overjoyed by the new addition to her family. But her adoption of Benny brought her more than a furry friend. She feels that her experience with the process has given her a chance to spread the word about these dogs.

Too many are still euthanized because they can’t find homes, she said. And Debbie feels that there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about how to go about adopting an animal like Benny.

So the former teacher and Air Force Reservist spends her days working with Benny and municipal organizations to have an open discussion about adopting animals, and the many benefits of doing so.

“I just want to let people know that anyone who wants to make a difference in just one life can do so,” she said.

Debbie has compiled a wealth of information about the process on the Internet, and is also willing to speak and work with anyone interested in adopting a war dog. She is also assisting with a presentation about war dogs at the 2008 Memorial Day event in Pikeville.

In addition to serving as an ambassador for the program, Benny volunteers as a therapy dog, and will soon be completely licensed. Earlier this month, he went with Seymour Johnson airmen to visit disabled veterans.

“He was a real charmer,” said Debbie, noting that as he met the patients, he would offer his paw for a handshake.

She added that, even amongst the military personnel she encountered at Seymour Johnson, there was a lot of misinformation about how to adopt one of the dogs.

“I had people asking me if I had to fill out a massive application, which I didn’t,” she said. “That just shows you how much misinformation is out there, and I want to do what I can to help change that.”

Visit http://www.uswardogs.org/new_page_5.htm for more information. For an outline of the adoption process, click on the small picture of Benny.

News Leader

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Working  Working dog teams search, patrol together

By Spc. Cheryl Ransford, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2005 –– When canine handlers of the 25th Military Police Company conduct extraction missions and area searches in Afghanistan, their highly trained dogs often serve as the main tool for finding weapons and people in hiding.

Army Sgt. Danny Rogers, a dog handler with the 25th Military Police Company, is "attacked" by Jordon, a military working dog, during a training exercise at the military-operations-in-urban-terrain training site at Bagram Air Base. Photo by Spc. Cheryl Ransford, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high- resolution image available.

To counteract the added dangers these dogs face in the line of duty, their ballistic vest equipment has been upgraded.

"These new vests are an upgrade from the current vests the dogs have been using," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Thomas, assistant kennel master for the 25th MP Co. "Before, the vests were only stab proof, which worked well for missions in the states. However, with the additional dangers these dogs are facing during this deployment, they are now wearing vests that are not only stab proof, but also bullet proof."

Although the new vests are slightly heavier than the vests the dogs previously used, neither their mobility nor their mission has been hindered by their use. "When the dogs are conducting missions that require them to use the new vests, they are in areas that could possibly cause them to be injured or killed," said Thomas. "They are the first one into the area looking for people or weapons. They help us find the things we can't see."

The vests are currently being used by the K-9 units at Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Airfield, said Sgt. 1st Class Erika Gordon, kennel master for the 25th MP Co. "Even though we only have a few vests at the moment, we are working to get vests for every dog in Afghanistan," she said. "These vests are the dogs' only means of protection. They go in before their handler. It is a matter of 'get them before they get you.' That's why these vests are so important."

The vests are also able to carry all of the dogs' gear, which includes heating or cooling packs. "These vests make us more versatile in what we can do with the dogs," said Gordon.

"Many people may say, 'They're just dogs, why do they need that kind of equipment?' But these dogs are a part of a team and need to be protected just as much as every member of every other team in country," said Thomas.

"These dogs are our partners," he said. "We travel with them, sleep with them and live with them. They are our best friends. Every dog handler will agree that there is nothing we won't do to protect our dogs."

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Peterson teams among 'top dogs' at K-9 trials

by Tony Davis

21st Security Forces Squadron

12/1/2005 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN)  -- Two 21st Security Forces Squadron teams placed near the top in the tactical obedience and top agency areas at a national competition for working dogs.

This is the sixth consecutive year squadron’s military working dogs and their handlers from here competed at the Tucson Area Police K-9 Trials in Tucson, Ariz.

“Peterson teams have always done well at the trials. This year was no different,” said Master Sgt. Mark Dedrick, the squadron kennel master.

He said Staff Sgt. Jesse Frank and Staff Sgt. Jesse Tames lead the way. After qualifying at a local competition and two months of nonstop training, the two sergeants -- with their K-9 partners, Gina and Chaky -- showed off their skills.

The Tucson competition consists of events like detection, tactical obedience, handler protection, area search, building search and an obedience course.

There were 72 dog-handler teams from 25 different military and civilian agencies at this year’s event. Peterson left its mark with Sergeant Frank and Chaky placing second in top agency. Sergeant Tames and Gina were fourth in the tactical obedience category.

Sergeant Dedrick said it was a lean year for the 21st Space Wing. So the kennel team raised more than $3,100 to meet the costs for the competition.

“These guys trained hard and earned everything they got,” he said. “Of the eight handlers here who competed to go, Sergeants Frank and Tames were the two best military working dog teams”.

Sergeant Frank said all the dogs performed well at the competition.

“The places were separated by fractions of seconds,” Sergeant Frank said. “I was proud of the way Gina worked and how well she did.”

Sergeant Dedrick said the squadron’s military working dog section participates in an average of four competitions annually, placing more often than not.

“No matter how many awards we win, we are always working hard and striving to do better,” he said.

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The News-Enterprise online

Fort Knox renames dog training complex, street after fallen soldiers

N-E/Forrest Berkshire Sgt. Michael Bending guards himself against Bart, one of the U.S. Army sniffer dogs held in the Voelz Complex on Fort Knox, during a training exercise Wednesday. The dogs are trained to attack, as well as sniff out drugs or bombs.

Staff Sgt. Kimberley Voelz and Staff Sgt. Richard Ramey left a mark on everyone they met. Now they've left a permanent mark on Fort Knox.

In a ceremony Friday, a training complex and road were renamed to honor the two fallen soldiers who were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The military police dog kennels at Fort Knox were renamed the Voelz Complex. Voelz, 27, was killed in Iraq in December 2003 when a bomb she was trying to dismantle exploded.

The street in front of the Voelz Complex was renamed Ramey Road. Ramey was killed in Iraq in February 2004, also when a bomb he was trying to dismantle detonated.

Both were members of the 703rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment based at Fort Knox.

Sgt. 1st Class Chiloi O'Brien, kennel master, said it was fitting to dedicate the complex and road to Voelz and Ramey.

The 703rd worked closely with the military dog handlers who work at the complex, O'Brien said. Most of the soldiers at the dog kennels knew both Voelz and Ramey.

"It's still emotional for us," O'Brien said, of the deaths. "They were two upstanding staff sergeants. They were rock stars in their field."

Spc. Chris Tillman worked with Ramey and said he was one of the first soldiers who welcomed Tillman to post.

"He kinda picked on me because I called him sergeant," Tillman said. "He said ‘Don't ever call me that again, call me Rich.' He was a nice guy."

The dogs at the complex are trained as attack dogs and to detect drugs or explosives. The handlers often worked with the 703rd soldiers on training in the field and on runs on post and in the community.

"We've always had a unique relationship," O'Brien said.

The families of both soldiers attended Friday's ceremony, O'Brien said.

Voelz's father said naming the dog kennels for his daughter was the perfect honor because she was such an animal lover. He told O'Brien that Voelz had even thought about boarding horses and dogs when she got out of the Army.

Voelz, a native of Carlisle, Pa., was the first female EOD soldier ever to be killed in combat. A unit team leader, she came to Fort Knox in 1999. Her husband, Staff Sgt. Max Voelz, also was assigned to the 703rd.

At the time of his death, Ramey, of Canton, Ohio, had completed more runs in Iraq than any other EOD soldier, O'Brien said. He became an EOD specialist in 1999, serving in New York and Kosovo before coming to Fort Knox. It was his second assignment to the post. He previously served at Fort Knox as an information systems analyst.

O'Brien said she was glad to be able to memorialize the two soldiers and she hoped it meant a lot to the families.

"It's an awkward situation for us, because no one wants to celebrate what happened," she said. "We can't bring their children back, but we can honor them."

Erica Walsh can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 238, or e-mail her at ewalsh@thenewsenterprise.com.

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By Pfc. Abel Trevino, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, BALAD, Iraq, Feb. 9, 2005 -- The most dangerous part of Giray Jones' day is when Timer squats: It means he's found explosives.

Brad and Giray Jones handle Timer and Gromett, explosive smelling dogs, at the North Entry Control Point as one of the first waves of inspections for local nationals and vehicles coming onto the area. Photo by Pfc. Abel Trevino, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.

Giray and Brad Jones are dog handlers working for K-9 Associates International and are contracted through the 81st Brigade Combat Team. Timer is a 5-year-old shorthaired German Shepherd handled by Giray. Brad handles Gromett, a Belgium Malinois.

The four of them have traveled throughout Iraq with 1st Armored and 1st Cavalry divisions and are now here searching for explosives and assisting in the capture of terrorists.

"The way we look at it, these dogs have actually saved lives," Brad said. "They've found munitions and stuff that were going to be used against people. They put people in jail who were bad guys who would have gone out and hurt more people."

The couple, married for 10 years, brings years of dog-handling experience to the gates. Both have law enforcement backgrounds. Brad planned a canine unit program for a police department, and Giray started off in search and rescue. They actually met during a case while searching for a missing boy.

That first case turned into years of commitment to one another. Their jobs rarely allow the couple to spend time together. Their 10th anniversary was the first one they were able to spend together, and it was on the plane coming to Iraq. That moment reflected the best part of the couple's job here: being together and being able to work and search together.

Their searching efforts here are used for more dangerous cases and incorporate olfactory skills of the dogs — such as smelling for explosives and drugs.

"The dogs are sensitive enough that they pick up on where there were explosives," Brad said. "If someone has been carrying explosives, the dogs will sometimes pick up on that. Even if they don't find any, military intelligence will question [the person] and get good information out of them."

Chasing the tail of explosives has led the couple to local national residences where they have made large discoveries of explosives and dangerous items, Brad said.

The dogs also represent a show of force and intimidation to people intent on harming the post. "Not only is [the dog's] presence a deterrent to those bringing in explosives, but also to the people's behavior coming in," Giray said. "They don't do anything crazy at the gate."

The dogs work close to those entering the area's gate, but are prohibited from directly searching people. "We don't search people; we search bags," Brad said.

"In the morning I go over and search personnel, bags and suitcases with Timer," Giray said. "Once I get through, I help [Brad] with vehicles."

When searching vehicles and bags, the dog handlers have to be sensitive to cultural differences. "A lot of the vehicles have food in them and the [owners] get concerned about their food coming in, but the dogs are trained where they won't eat any food unless it's given specifically by us," Giray said.

She said the dogs do smell the food, but are trained not to lick or touch it.

Their job puts the couple directly in harm's way, but for a greater purpose. "Because of the nature of the job, [the danger] is to be expected. We're there to locate it first so a larger number of people aren't involved," Giray said.

Like all aspects of force protection, the Jones take their jobs seriously and concentrate heavily on watching the reaction of the dogs for clues and hints that something is amiss. "We depend on soldiers to watch our backs while we're out there," Brad said.

"We appreciate the support from the armed services that we get," Giray said. "We just can't thank those guys enough for their support on what the dogs do and also for their support on our safety. It makes our job a lot easier."

(Army Pfc. Abel Trevino is assigned to the 28th Public Affairs Detachment.)

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