demanding to know why he couldn’t simply adopt his old comrade-in-arms. Robby became a cause celebre. The result was Robby’s Law
(H.R.5314), which President Bill Clinton signed in November 2000. It required that all military canines suitable for adoption be available for placement
According to the Defense Depart-
ment, some 2,700 dogs serve in the U.S. military. About 600 of them are deployed in designated war zones overseas, including Afghanistan, areas of Africa, and Kuwait. Often, the duties of man’s best friend include walking ahead of their uniformed masters, where they will suff er the worst of the blast from impro- vised explosive devices. Yet despite the risks they
take on behalf of their human masters, these canine war- riors continue to be classifi ed as “equipment” by the mili- tary. That fact makes dog lov- ers nervous, because surplus military equipment is simply discarded. Debbie Kandoll, founder of Military Work- ing Dog Adoptions, an outfi t that helps civilians adopt for- mer military work dogs, says, “These dogs are clearly more
PROTECTIVE PARTNERS Air Force men and their canine companions on a mission in Iraq. Inset: The bond between servicemen and their dogs is strong.
after their service. Aiello tells Newsmax that Robby’s Law was long overdue, consider- ing the lifesaving role the dogs play. He should know. Aiello was a 21-year-old corporal in 1966 when he and his scout dog, Stormy, were moving ahead of a Marine platoon near a Viet- namese village. Entering a clearing, the female German shepherd froze with her ears straight up. The young handler immediate-
ly reacted to the dog’s warning and hit the deck just as a sniper’s bullet cracked over his head. “There’s no doubt in my mind Stormy saved my life that day,” recalls Aiello. “I don’t think people realize what these dogs did for our troops then, and what they’re still doing. They’re saving lives.”
soldiers than they are equipment.” She fi gures the average war dog
saves 150 soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines during its active service. Kandoll and Aiello want service
canines to be redesignated as the soldiers they truly are. Their hopes are embodied in the draft “Canine Mem- bers of the Armed Forces Act,” now working its way through Congress. The act covers the fol- lowing treatment of such work dogs:
Reclassifi es military work-
ing dogs as canine members of the armed forces not as equipment.
Authorizes the transport of retir-
ing military working dogs to Lackland Air Force Base, or another suitable location, for adoption, if adoption is unavailable where the dog initially is located. Presently, anyone adopting
a dog retiring overseas must pay for its transportation back to the United States.
Establishes a system to provide for
the veterinary care of retired military working dogs, beginning on the date of adoption.
Directs the DOD to create a decora-
tion, or another appropriate award, to recognize military working dogs that are killed in action or that per- form an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act during service to the United States.
A
lready, treatment of service dogs has come a long way. Dogs
injured overseas get emergency medi- cal treatment on the battlefi eld, and eventually are fl own to Germany for care. If necessary, they will then fl y on to San Antonio, Texas, for more advanced treatment. The good news is that most of the
Average number of 150
troops saved by a war dog during its active service:
war dogs currently serving in hard- scrabble Afghanistan and Iraq will survive to enjoy a comfortable retire- ment. Today, military dogs are eutha- nized only to end their suff ering, or, in a very few cases, if it is determined they are simply too danger- ous to return to a civil- ian setting. Considering that dogs save humans,
it seems only fair that people return the favor when they can. Cpl. Chester recalls that
nerve-racking helicopter fl ight to Norfolk that saved his
snake-bitten dog Dingo’s life — and his leg. “The whole fl ight I stood by Dingo
hoping and praying we would get to Norfolk in time to save his leg as well as his life,” Chester told Marine Corps News. “People don’t realize what these dogs mean to their handlers.”
AUGUST 2012 | NEWSMAX 25
DOG/COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TAG/ISTOCKPHOTO
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