Honoring Our Fallen K-9 Heroes
This upcoming Monday, we recognize the men and women who have died serving this country. We remember members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. There is a group that often gets forgotten though; military service dogs who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Military dogs are extremely tough and are put through intense training to help our men and women stay safe in the field. They can detect bombs, weapons, drugs, as well as track and attack the enemy. Military dogs are more effective than any other military equipment there is. Because of the requirements and standards, only about 50% of dogs make it through training.
Once these animals complete training they are paired with a handler and an amazing bond can be formed. If the handler is killed in combat, the dog will mourn them. Some will even refuse to use another handler. The military used to treat these animals as “surplus” and would euthanize or abandon them if they were too old to continue or if they wouldn't work with a new handler after the death or retirement of their first. “Robby's Law” was passed in 2000, which allows handlers and their families the first chance to adopt military dogs when they retire.
If a military dog dies in service, they are honored by the whole unit, with upside down feeding dishes being symbolically used in the display. There isn't a number on the amount of military dogs we have lost, as they have been our companions through every major conflict, long before we kept those records. There are many places that honor these dogs, including this site .
Please remember our K-9 heroes this weekend!
Recent Articles
-
Prevent Animal Cruelty
There are many forms of animal neglect, cruelty, and abuse, and it happens all over the world. So how do we recognize the signs of abuse, and how can we make a difference? -
OnGuard Training: 3 Steps to Success!
The OnGuard™ is designed to make training your dog easier, as well as to stop unwanted barking and bad behaviors in their tracks! It's one of our most versatile products, but still people ask what its purpose is and how they are supposed to use it effectively. -
Barking In Your Sleep?
Is your neighbor's dog keeping you up all night from their incessant barking? Or maybe it's your dog that likes to bark at night. Read these tips to help you and your pet get a better night's sleep! -
Anxious Olivia
Due to the severity of Olivia’s anxiety and fear, the volunteers were desperate to try anything that could help her… -
Should you spay and neuter? The answer is always YES!
February is National Spay and Neuter Your Pet Month, which focuses on bringing awareness to the community about how important it is to spay and neuter your pets.
