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Everything You Need to Know About K-9 Veterans Day

Everything You Need to Know About K-9 Veterans Day


  March 13 is National K-9 Veterans Day, a day to reflect on and honor the service of American military working dogs (MWD).


  The date commemorates the day in 1942 when the US Army first began training dogs for specific military use. The US Army called the program the “K-9 Corps.” Before this date, it was reported the US Military had a very small number of dogs for service, most of which were utilized as sled dogs in Arctic regions. 


  After the attack on US Naval Base Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a group of civilians approached the US Army to convince them to use dogs for other purposes. This effort was formed under a coalition called Dogs for Defense, Inc (DFD). Many of the first working dogs for the military were donated from American families to serve as sentry dogs. 


  During the initial stages, the DFD was responsible for procuring, housing, and training the dogs. Although the volunteer effort was tremendous, the level of proficiency of the dogs varied based on the skill level of individual kennels across the country. On July 16, 1942, the Secretary of War directed the Remount Branch of the Quartermaster Corps (QMC) to procure, house, and train future working dogs for sentry duty and tactical missions. 


  Within the first year, the QMC had trained and equipped more than 1,800 working dog teams to patrol the coastline for potential German or Japanese submarine units. 


  Since WWII, US Forces from all branches have used military working dogs to help support their human counterparts. The working dog mission has continuously adapted to meet the greatest threat to US Forces at that time. In WWII alone, this mission for working dogs grew from sentry operations to tactical patrols, mine detection, messengers, and scout dogs. 


  The US MWD has continued to evolve and shift mission emphasis throughout each conflict of our nation’s history. The adaptability and potential capability of working dogs has made their presence and essential battlefield force multiplier. From the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Afghanistan, no unit was ever upset to have a dog around.


  Every year on March 13 we remember all our four-legged warriors’ selfless service, sacrifice, and lives they have saved. 


  K-9 Leads the Way!


  Sources:


  https://armyhistory.org/the-dogs-of-war-the-u-s-armys-use-of-canines-in-wwii/


  https://www.military.com/veterans-day/k9-veterans-day.html

US War Dogs’ Org Update – Q3, 2025

October 4, 2025
US War Dogs’ Org Update – Q3, 2025 As is our custom, War Dogs president Chris Willingham has penned an overview of what the organization has been up to over the summer months. As always, it’s been a busy one, so strap in and let’s get into it… What’s going on, K-9 fam?! I hope you have all had a great summer and feel ready to enjoy some cooler temperatures as we move into the fall. The team and I have been grinding and doing our thing to support K-9s – active and retired, while supporting the wider community by attending events and spreading the good word of US War Dogs. War Dogs Support  We were honored to welcome 41 new retired MWDs to our Rx Program and take care of over $34,799 worth of medications. Our Specialized Care program has evolved to cover the cost of certain long term treatments for RMWDs and Emergency Care program, which covers the cost of surgeries and emergency treatment, has continued to gather pace too: We covered $44,690 of treatments for 19 retired dogs across these two key programs, during the quarter. These initiatives are making a real difference to the lives of retired K-9s and their adopted families – we absolutely love hearing all the positive feedback about the programs and feel truly honored that we can play a practical role in caring for our K-9 heroes.

Making a Stand for K-9

October 4, 2025
Making a Stand for K-9 When second year law student Robert Finkbeiner was drafted to join the war effort in Vietnam, he had no idea what was in store for him and the impact that his combat deployment would have on the rest of his life. US War Dogs was honored to speak to Robert about his service and how he used his unique skillset in fierce defence of military K-9s, whose sad plight we know all-too well. Robert’s son David, reached out to us to feature his dad’s story – we are so grateful for the chance to share his experiences.

In Conversation With… US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles

July 2, 2025
In Conversation With… US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles The K-9 community is blessed to have a richness and diversity of the skillsets within it – and this is something that we at US War Dogs is always keen to spotlight. In this interview, we were honored to chat with former US Army Veterinarian, Jim Giles, about his career that spanned the height of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Jim helps us to peer behind the surgical curtain of what life was truly like for the professionals who were charged with saving our injured MWDs in military theater. He also introduces us to one of the MWDs whose story he is honored to be part of.

Q2 2025: Talking War Dogs

July 2, 2025
Talking War Dogs Q2, 2025 Update As we bid farewell to another busy three months, it’s my pleasure to give you a round-up of what we’ve been up to: From support provided to our active duty and retired K-9s, to spreading the good word of War Dogs at events and supporting important fundraising efforts that help us to continue our vital mission… Read all about it, right here! Supporting our MWDs Delivering our vital programs of support to our active duty and retired MWDs is at the very heart of what we do. Our team of volunteers help to facilitate life-saving veterinary care through our Emergency Care Program; sign up new dogs to the Rx prescription medications program and much more. During April, May and June we saw: 30 new Rx sign-ups Supported 19 dogs through our Emergency Care program, to the tune of $24,000 Sent out 13 MWD Service Awards, in grateful thanks and recognition for a career of service to our nation Supported six families through our Rainbow Bridge Assistance program, covering the cost of euthanasia, cremation and providing personalized urns to the families who wanted them We also spent in excess of $38,000 on Rx medications over the last quarter, alleviating the financial burden for the families of our retired MWDs and making sure they get the meds they need to stay happy and healthy. For every person and business who supports our mission, know that you are part of something very special!

US War Dogs In Conversation With… National Service Animals Memorial Founder, Chair and Sculptor, Susan Bahary

March 29, 2025
US War Dogs In Conversation With… National Service Animals Memorial Founder, Chair and Sculptor, Susan Bahary

Q1 2025: US War Dogs Highlights

March 29, 2025
Q1 2025: US War Dogs Highlights Our 25th birthday year has gotten off to a flying start and our president, Chris Willingham, has compiled a look back over the last three months’ activities and what our team has achieved, in service to the K-9 community. What’s going on, K-9 fam?! I hope that the first quarter of 2025 has treated you and your families well. We are so excited to finally be in our birthday year, which we knew was going to be one of our biggest and busiest yet, as we have been planning some epic ways to celebrate this incredible organization’s milestone. We weren’t wrong – it’s been a great start and we are pumped for the next chapter in this journey to the big 25. But along with all the birthday preparations (more on that shortly), our business-as-usual work to support military working dogs – active and retired – continues at a pace. We were thrilled to sign 31 new retirees up to our Rx program – giving them access to the medications they need – and all funded by US War Dogs. Overall, we provided meds totaling over $35,000 .

Your War Dogs Store

March 29, 2025
Your War Dogs Store

A Final Update for 2024!

December 28, 2024
A Final Update for 2024! The last three months of 2024 have been action-packed, with US War Dogs’ suite of programs providing well-deserved support for our K-9 community. A busy final quarter means that the overall care we’ve been able to provide this year has been incredible! Let’s dig into the details… Supporting Our Retired K-9 Heroes We’ve signed up 91 new retired MWDs to our Rx program and spent over $167,000 on treatments through our Emergency Care program. We are particularly proud of this program, as it was developed in response to the need arising from within the community and through conversations with handlers and adoptive families about the challenges they face.  Since rolling out this program last year, we’ve not seen a single Go Fund Me page for retired MWDs, needing support with treatments. This is something we are exceptionally proud of. Read more about some of the recipients of care through the program, like Rex, SSeneca and Gunner.

In Conversation With… US Army dog handler and Purple Heart recipient, Alec Alcoser

December 28, 2024
In Conversation With… US Army dog handler and Purple Heart recipient, Alec Alcoser

War Dogs Turns 25!

September 27, 2024
War Dogs Turns 25! As our big birthday year fast approaches, we have some very special dates for your calendar in 2025, as we look forward to celebrating our quarter-century in epic style.