Recruited to Serve and Sniff -- Again

[IndianaGreen]

These brave dogs are also veterans and should be treated with respect and concern, as much as if they were serving as canine police officers.

Recruited to Serve and Sniff -- Again

Ace Bomb and Weapons Detectives, More Military Dogs Being Sent Overseas

By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 29, 2009; Page A01

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't just forcing thousands of soldiers and Marines to deploy for two and three tours. The sacrifice is being shared by a key, and growing, part of the U.S. military: highly trained German shepherds and Belgian Malinois. In a war with no front lines, they have become valuable at sniffing out makeshift bombs, which cause most U.S. casualties.

The use of dogs in war, whether as scouts, sentries or trackers, goes back hundreds of years. But since Sept. 11, 2001, the Defense Department has increased the number of military dogs from 1,320 to 2,025, and many have served multiple tours.

Some service members say the dogs' ability to sniff out bombs and insurgents makes them as indispensable as a rifle or flak jacket. And they believe that the dogs' heroism should be rewarded.

The U.S. War Dogs Association is trying to persuade the Pentagon to create a medal for dogs. Another group is pushing for a military working dog memorial in the Washington area. And the Humane Society, which criticized the Pentagon during the Vietnam War, when many dogs were left behind or euthanized, has credited the military with working to find retirement homes for them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR2009032801045.html?wprss=rss_metro