Honoring Military Working Dogs on National K9 Veterans Day
Honoring Military Working Dogs on National K9 Veterans Day
March 13 is National K9 Veterans Day. How much do you know about these furry fighters?
Learning Their History
Dogs have assisted humans in battle all over the world since at least the time of ancient Egypt. Among other roles, they have carried messages, patrolled camps, guarded prisoners, and sniffed out booby traps and ambushes. Dogs served in the American Civil War, but the U.S. military did not establish a formal K9 Corps until World War II. The Corps was officially created on March 13, 1942.
Today, U.S. Army K9 dogs (also referred to as military working dogs, or MWDs) work with both military and law enforcement officers to find explosives and illegal drugs, assist in search and rescue at disaster sites, transport supplies, track criminals, and help project an air of authority that can cause a potential bad actor to think twice about trying something. The approximately 3,000 MWDs deployed today were carefully selected and have gone through extensive training. They are assigned to different specialties and issued their own uniforms. Each dog works closely with a human handler who provides plenty of playtime and affection.
Honoring Their Service
National K9 Veterans Day was created in 1987 by Vietnam War veteran Joseph White, but it has not been recognized by the federal government. You can contact your member of Congress to show your support for making it an official national holiday.
Although retired MWDs are frequently adopted by their handlers or other service members, this is not always possible. Organizations such as Mission K9, which focuses on helping K9 veterans, welcome donations, and some pet charities with a wider scope have dedicated programs for retired working dogs. If you are planning to get a new dog, consider adopting a K9 veteran.
Setting up proper vet care is a top priority when you are bringing home a new pet. You can schedule your new friend's first appointment at Pet Hospitals of Hawaii here.
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