“The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory. Our Army (and military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource."
- GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS, USA
I was just spending my afternoon browsing the internet and I found this great article about a woman who is trying to help the Military Working Dogs (MWD) health benefit. This is the complete story here and their Facebook page. Please check them out and help them out as well.
Many people don't hear much about this unit in the Police department or the Military. We often hear many stories of the fallen heroes, but very few of us realized that there are other heroes that we forgot. The four legged warriors. They served, protected and saved lives. They work long hours, regardless of the weather, surrounding or when they "don't feel like it" moment. They do their job to obey the handlers, sniffed, and found things that human or machine cannot do. Many of them also helps other troops to cope with loneliness or simply just being a great companion, and bring healing to so many people. They are the Military Working Dogs. They are also heroes!
This is BART. He is Killed In Action (KIA) on the Chinook Helicopter last Saturday, alongside with his handler, John Douangdara (visit his Facebook Page). They are both loved in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
Rest In God's love sweet Bart. God created you to be man's best friend and you are more than just a friend. You helped saving people's live. You served your purpose in this earth and you are honored. Heroes comes in different shapes and breeds :)
Please take time to click on these links and support them and their handlers. It is important for us to remember that these dogs hold a very important role of saving the troop's lives and others through their service (sniffing bombs, find IED, field interview, chasing "bad people", illegal drugs, being a faithful companion, guarding, patrol, etc).
http://www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org/ (mission: To provide cooling vests, and other protective gear such as Doggles, MuttLuks, and any other necessary gear
to help the Military Working Dogs in active war zones and extreme conditions, who in turn protect and serve our Soldiers.)
http://www.save-a-vet.org/ (organization that rescues military and law enforcement working animals that are otherwise non-adoptable, by providing free housing to disabled military and law enforcement veterans in exchange for living with and caring for these forgotten soldiers.)
http://www.kens5.com/news/San-Antonio-woman-lobbies-medical-benefits-for-military-dogs-127446768.html (help MWD get health benefit)
http://www.militaryworkingdogs.com/
http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/
This is one of my favorite story of Marine Cpl. Dustin Lee and Lex. Click the story in here. Short story about these heroes, Lex is the first active duty, fully fit military working dog to be granted early retirement in order to be adopted. Working for his United States Marine Corps handler Corporal Dustin J. Lee in the Iraq War, he was wounded in an attack that killed Lee, and subsequently awarded an honorary Purple Heart.
This is another great story of Military Working Dog named Dexter. Another MWD's story that always makes me smile and so proud to support these amazing dogs.
Dexter’s full name is Military Working Dog Dexter CO67, but he is now retired after service in Afghanistan. Dexter served for six years, during which time he detected a garbage truck filled with explosives and saved at least a thousand military personnel and civilians. After his tour, he was scheduled to be euthanized because of hip problems and the fact that military dogs are hard to place for adoption because of their aggressiveness. His handler, Kathleen Ellison, went to work to save Dexter through the organization Military Working Dog Adoptions. Veteran Danny Scheurer, who worked with dogs during his military service, agreed to adopt Dexter and bring him home to Spring Grove, Illinois. Dexter also became the first canine member of the American Legion when he was accepted as a full member by Fox Lake American Legion Post 703.
Keep these dogs and their handlers in your heart and prayers as they served us and saving lives. Help in a way that you could. May it be prayers, donation, sending care packages to an organization that is legal and legit, adopt one, support them when they come home.
"War dogs have, indeed, served the nation well and saved many lives. Dogs continue to serve to protect Americans both in combat zones and in homeland security roles."
- GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL, USA (Retired)
Have a wonderful day people. May God bless these heroes and may their sacrifice will never be forgotten. They maybe a dog to you, an animal to some. But, they are heroes to me. They do things that a lot of people will not even think of doing it. Many of us just spend time complaining about the government and do nothing to change it. At least, these dogs do SOMETHING and they give their ALL for this country and the world in so many cases. Remember them, keep them in your heart and prayers. Support them!
"Technology, like the electronic frequency jammers used in Iraq to prevent bombs from being detonated by cell phones or TV remotes, has been successful, but the highest detection rates were still achieved using K-9 units and trained handlers."
- LT. GENERAL MICHAEL L. OATES, USA
xoxo,
Lindsay
