Military dogs work in the same hostile environments as their human handlers. About a dozen dogs have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and others have been credited with saving soldiers’ lives by detecting bombs.
But the Pentagon has said no (again) to the idea that military dogs should be eligible for service medals. The United States War Dogs Association not only wants the recognition, but also is planning to build a War Dog Memorial.
“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.”
