Four-Legged Soldiers

Our canine companions are recognized in a variety of jobs, including police work, tracking missing persons, and disaster recovery. Many of us forget, however, the loyal canines who accompany our soldiers into the Middle East. These four-legged heroes are trained to sniff for explosives, control crowds, and even apprehend suspects.

Over 2,000 dogs are currently supporting U.S. troops in the Middle East. These canines are kept in good health and the majority of them only suffer common injuries, such as dehydration, bites and stings, cuts on their paws, etc. If more severe injuries occur, the dogs are transported to the appropriate veterinary center (sometimes even back to the U.S) and then returned to war upon their recovery.

The military has allowed many dogs to be adopted after their military duty if they are able. Congress has even passed laws allowing healthy dogs to be released from combat, under extraordinary circumstances, to be with their former handlers.

As are most soldiers, canine companions in the war are extremely loyal to their fellow comrades. One Marine even saw a wounded dog stretch protectively over it’s handler's body, refusing to be moved. It’s exactly this level of loyalty and passion that truly makes canines man’s best friend.