Today is Veteran’s Day- a day we celebrate and honor all U.S. military veterans and dogs for their service to our country. In the United States, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 every year. It marks the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the men, women, and dogs who have helped and help make America safe. We need to honor these people who have risked and risk their own lives so that we and our country can be safe. This day is in honor of all veterans, living or deceased.
Veterans Day is celebrated in other countries including Canada and Australia which observes “Remembrance Day” on November 11. The Sunday closest to November 11 is observed by Great Britain and is also known as “Remembrance Day.”
One of six dogs at New York’s Veterans Parade 2014.
In 2014, the New York Veterans Day Parade included six military dogs who walked alongside their soldier partners for which they served.
Dogs have played an integral part of our military since the 1800’s when they were used as messengers, trackers, guards, mascots, and scouts. A variety of breeds have been used for their abilities including German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, Retrievers, Blood hounds, Poodles, Yorkies and more.
In World War II, dogs served many roles. They were trained as scouts which utilized their keen sense of smell and hearing. Their strong senses alerted their handlers of dangers. These dogs saved hundreds of lives. The surviving dogs were returned home but were retrained so they could go back to their homes and former families.
The WWII dogs made it possible to have more Dog Platoons during the Vietnam War. Vietnam War Dogs are credited with averting more than 10,000 lives.
In the Vietnam War, 4,000 dogs served our country. Sadly, only 200 dogs came home. “This is one of the darkest parts of war dog history.” Most were euthanized by the South Vietnamese Army or were left behind and no one knows for sure the fate that fell upon them. Many handlers had no idea their canine partners never left Vietnam alive.
Today’s war dogs are trained at the Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in the Military Working Dog Program. They have an estimated 2,300 working dogs in all branches of the Armed Forces. They are used worldwide to fight the war on terror. They are also utilized to keep military bases safe and to detect bombs and explosives. Military War Dogs are able to detect minute traces of drugs or explosives and alert their handlers.
The vast majority of U.S. military working dogs are German and Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. They are used because of their aggressiveness, intelligence, loyalty and athleticism. These dogs will defend their handlers to the end. They inflict fear in an aggressor in a way a human, even if armed, often can’t.” When most people see a military working dog (or a police dog), they don’t want to mess with it. “Staff Sgt. Andrew Mier, a military working dog trainer who has deployed to Southwest Asia three times as a handler- twice to Saudi Arabia and once to Qatar, said, A dog creates a psychological deterrent.”
In 2000 a new law was passed that allows military dogs to be adopted by their current or former handlers, law enforcement agencies, or individuals capable of caring for them. Military Working Dogs finally received the respect they deserved for their years of service to our country.
Retired, adopted military dogs
I want to offer a huge and heartfelt thank you to all veterans- men, women, and canines. You have served our country well and fight to keep its people and our country safe from those who want to harm us. You deserve more than one day of honor. I salute all of you who served our country, those currently serving and those who have died.
Thank a veteran today!
4000 dogs were kept in Vietnam. That’s the thanks they got after helping our soldiers! How could they do that? The poor dogs suffered a cruel death!!
Dogs should always be allowed to be adopted. That’s the least that can be done for them.
Amen!