Are Military Dogs Equipment?
You are absolutely right if you were thinking I haven’t posted a pure picture of the week post in quite some time.
Well this week I decided to change that and had some time at lunch yesterday so I caroused some pictures and pondered a theme for the week.
I don’t feel the need to have a theme all the time…it does make it fun sometimes though and normally if I have one they aren’t planned out…..it just comes to me… like: Cool Dog Wear Shades.
I need to do another one of those actually….. Military Working Dogs wearing ”sunglasses” just can’t be beat!
OK, we all know they are ballistic eye wear called Doggles (yes I said doggles) that are meant to protect our 4-legged troop’s eyes. But you have to admit….they look adorable.
All right fine, you win. Here is a picture of everyone’s favorite 4-legged trooper, Honza Bear, with his doggles on.
Military Working Dog Honza always wears his doggles for the ladies!
Anyway, back to my point. So this week I wanted to get back to the basics and make this post all about the dogs. But then I saw the picture below.
U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), Regimental Combat Team 7 patrol through local Afghan settlements and shops in Montakee, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2013. The Marines of 2/7 utilized equipment like improvised explosives detection dogs, interpreters, and secure electronic enrollment kits, a portable biometric device, to register and recognize the local population of Boldak, in support of International Security Assistance Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert J. Reeves/ Released)
No, it wasn’t the crazy Taliban looking dude that caught my attention. Look at the caption and tell me if you notice something.
Who noticed that the photographer or maybe his editor called the Improvised Explosive Detector Dog “equipment”?
I was dumbfounded and then I got fired up and started to write this post.
Who has watched the new Animal Planet program called Glory Hounds? Admittedly I’ve only watched the first hour. After the hand grenade incident I sat there, wiped a tear from my eye, shut the TV off, and went and laid with my dogs on their bed. I needed to be close to them.
For those that watched the show you know those handlers and dogs are Marines.
As I’ve said from the start on this blog in one of my original blog post……….
Dogs are no longer pets. They are family members.
Military dogs are not equipment. They are fellow service members. 
Our military, our society has evolved. Some people just need to catch up.
Of course this issue should have been addressed with the Canine Members of the Armed Service Act, but the provision that would have recognized our military working dogs as actual members of the armed service was removed from the act.
I’ve still not heard back from Senator McCain’s office to see if what I heard was true. So I can’t confirm or deny that Senator McCain actual sank this provision of the act.
So my carefree and fun post full of handsome dog pictures has turned into a bit of a fiery rant. But hey, that is pretty much my MO when I’m passionate about something……but lets transition anyway…..
I’ve got some great posts lined up in the coming weeks. The next chapter in Daniel and MWD Bony “The Grey Wolf”, a new dog team- Kevin and MWD Bull and, finally an update on Noah and that “Stubborn Puppy” MWD Chuck.
A U.S. Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), Regimental Combat Team 7, speaks to Diamon, an improvised explosives detection dog (IDD), near settlements in Montakee, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2013. The Marines of 2/7 utilized IDDs during their patrol as a counter measure to explosive threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert J. Reeves/ Released)
Yes, I also have the final chapter in Marc, MWD Anax and, MWD Dark as well as a post were I bear my soul and admit all my flaws. (this one is my wife’s favorite post so far!)
One last thing. I went over 1,000 subscribers on the site this week. Thank you all so much. Your support inspires me to keep writing and advocating for our military dogs and troops.
Please spread the word of my site by forwarding my posts, putting them out on your Facebook and Twitter and simply mentioning the site in passing to your friends and family members.
The first 1,000 subscribers took me just over a year. Let’s see how fast we can get the next 1,000.
On to the next 1,000!
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37 comments on “Are Military Dogs Equipment?”
Leave a Reply
Sally Lowen says: Watched the first hour and ended up cuddled with my Mal and tears. Have to finish this work. Hope your family is wel. Thank you.
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Kevin Hanrahan says:
I can relate Sally.
I’m watching the rest on Friday for sure though.
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Kevin,
In the second hour of Glory Hounds is another incident. I cried for nearly the whole 2 hours. I don’t know what hurt my heart more: the handler who loses a dog or the dog who loses a handler.
The show was some amazingly well-done in its depiction of the “humanity” of these K-9s that you could really feel the emotion going both ways. It was a great show. I hope they do another one with more stories of more K-9 teams. They needed to do shows like this 5, 10 years ago when the American public was advocating abandoning the troops entirely since “no one’s doing over there anything anyway.” I got so sick of hearing that in the 2006, 2007 timeframe. People here thought you guys were all shacked up in hotels or something. The visuals in shows like Glory Hounds and like Inside Combat Rescue (cameras embedded with the USAF teams who pick up WIAs during the Golden Hour) really are a great “wake up call” to get those disallusioned Americans back in touch with reality.
-sry
@webbiegrrl
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Natalie says: Good post Kevin. But as long as any K9 is left behind and killed when his human returns home, in any country and any battle. As long as News of one four pawed hero making it home, thanks to charitable organisations, are worth a frontpage-headline, the dog might not be equipment on paper anymore, but he sure still is in the decision makers heads. And not to forget, it costs to bring him home. Its inconvenient to bring him home. At least for all controllers and pencil pusher signing it off! Once again its about respect. Respect for these animals who live and die for us fullheartedly.
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O wow Natalie…… I’m not sure where you are getting your information from. It seems you are confusing the Afghanistan stray dogs that Soldiers adopt with our Military Working Dogs.
Not a single Military Working Dog is left in Afghanistan or anywhere else for that matter…I guarantee you this. Our government did this in Vietnam……but that was a long time ago.
Reference the stray dogs…… I could talk about this for hours….but the bottom line is……the question to be asked is…should our taxpayer dollars be used to rescue stray Afghan dogs and bring them back to the states?
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michelle says:
Hi Kevin, in response to your question about taxpayer money rescuing strays in Afghanistan or any other country they answer to me is plainly NO. much as i would LIKE to be able to help we have so many dogs in shelters & running the streets right now here in the US that we need to focus on THAT problem. too many people think it’s ok for their pet – and yea it includes cats especially – to run around and not be spayed or neutered. then the animal gets pregnant & now they have more animals than they can take care of . believe me ever single one of my formerly stray/feral cats is spayed or neutered. i wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Keith Baron says: Another great post Kevin,keep plugging away at Senator McCain’s office until you get an acknowledgement that MWD’s are Members Of The Armed Services.Good Luck!
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Thanks Keith! We won’t stop until the right thing is done.
I watched all of Glory Hounds with a box of Kleenex, but I’m so glad I watched. After seeing the relationship between the handler and the dog, I don’t see how anyone can call these animals equipment. So happy for the work you’re doing–all the way around.
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Hi Mary. Thank you. The bond these teams form is amazing.
Absolutely offer their MWD’s R no more equip, then our 2 legged Warriors. They give their lives too save many & they R smarter then some people I know, like the idiot that puts doom as their future. They R loving caring creatures that put their lives totally to save others. Stop murdering our best friends!!!!
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Not sure what you mean by murdering our best friends Sheila….
Karen says: You HAD to mention the hand grenade incident. Now I am sitting here at work in tears remembering poor Zorah. If you haven’t watched the 2nd hour, you will cry then too as there is another incident in that portion. Glory Hounds made me realize how much these soldiers depend on their dogs as well as each other. What really got me is that these dogs are actually targets because of how well they do their jobs.
-Karen
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That is absolutely the truth Karen. These dog teams are targets of the enemy…they realize how important the dog teams are…..this is a very dangerous mission.I think the most dangerous…… or at least level with EOD.
Linda says: I too couldn’t watch Glory Hounds after the first hour and went and curled up with my retired MWD Fanto and cried. There but for fate was my “baby”. No, our dogs are not “equipment” any more than our 2 legged heroes are. They are both brave, work to keep our country safe and go through unimaginable hardships in the name of freedom. Keep them all safe, return them all home. If Glory Hounds ever comes out on disc, I would consider purchasing it to watch in my own time, at my own pace. Thank you for all that you do Kevin.
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I hope they put it out there on disk to buy Linda. I would def purchase a copy as well!
Ruben Navarro says: If I were to guess, the reference to military equipment was an ill-thought out editing decision. At least I hope so. The military command staff should encourage our troops (and the military jounos) to recognize these K9s are far more than mere tools or equipment, but equal serving members of the combat team. Once you start dehumanizing a living, breathing being the soldier/sailor/Marine has developed a relationship with and trusted his life with, you are only a stones throw away from service members urinating on the corpses of the dead. Oh yeah. That happened. I think there is a correlation in the message sent about how we treat the living – including K9s – and how we treat the dead or captured.
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You put this so well Ruben….thank you.
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Thanks Marla!
Kim Owens says: I am emotional over my dogs. I’d never try not to be. But trying to keep emotion out of it, anyone who wants to voice an opinion should be educated by watching any of the programs on MWDs or read a book about them. (Sargeant Rex) They are true heros in every sense of the word. I bet anyone in any branch of the service would agree. It’s hard to imagine they were ever put under the umbrella of “equipment”.
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I know Kim…it seems we need to get some of the people in charge in line with reality.
watched all of it online – then went upstairs and laid down with my dogs and cried. seeing the handler touch Zora’s paws just did me in. love your site keep up the great work!
OFG and The Dog Horde (Col Ti, Commander Zander, Princess Kai, and Lucky)
http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.com/p/what-i-know-about-dogs.html
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Will do, thanks!
Carol Batten says: I share your photos on Pinterest and they’re always being repinned.I always give recognition to the photographers and those in the photo.Is there any information on the 1st and 4th photo?Your website is also included with the pin.
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Hi Carol. Thanks for sharing my site. The captions for those photos are the same as the last pic…I wish they had put the dog teams name but they didn’t.
Patty says: Thanks for another insightful post, Kevin. No Way should these faithful dogs be considered equipment. That’s just so harsh. I will call McCain’s office about this. I’d also like to donate to an organization that helps the teams get their dogs home. Any suggestions?
Thank you for all you’re doing, Kevin.
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My pleasure Patty! I saw news of a petition on facebook this morning Patty. I will do some research and let everyone know.
I’m very impressed with your blog.
I enjoy your point of view and love the pics!
Steve Shoemaker says: Great post Kevin, and I agree they are NOT equipmentbut fellow Soldiers but get that through to a Bureaucrats brain, (back in the “Brown Shoe” Army, G.I. stood for general issue and Troops were considered equipment) and like most of your followers I shed a tear for another fallen Hero and slept with my arms around my dogs that night. Keep up the great work Colonel !!
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Hi Steve, thanks!
Jani Muhlestein says: I haven’t watched it. I can’t. Seven dogs is just too many to sleep with. Besides, Tink snores. And I’m a wimp.
These precious soldiers have saved so many lives. They aren’t equipment, and only a few people think of them that way any more. But we do have to keep working in the ones who do, until everybody understands that they are members of our armed forces, just as their handlers are.
I did notice that he described the interpretors equipment, too. Ouch.
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O Jani….you have to watch it…..u need to force yourself to do so. It won’t regret it!
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Ok. Maybe. Tink is small enough that I can hold her. Maybe Doc too… They can go to sleep and I can hide behind them.
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Richard Fletcher says: Kevin,
I don’t need to tell you how I felt while watching Glory Hounds but what I’ve found from watching that show and others like Combat Rescue is that is helps me to feel closer to Aaron even though he’s not around anymore. It gives me an even great sense of pride in knowing what he did and that he and Hunter died for a purpose. I also saw an episode of Nat Geo and the battle of Kandahar with two teams from the Army’s 3rd SF Group out of Bragg which is the group Aaron was in. Keep up the good work my friend! Oh I forgot to mention that I attended a function of the MWD memorial at March ARB a couple of weeks ago and it was extremly rewarding but painful at the same time.
Hi Kevin,
I agree completely with everything you say here about the importance of MWDs! Just want to point out that by my reading, the writer of the caption also lists the human interpreters as ‘equipment.’ Seems more like extremely poorly written copy, rather than a deliberate insult, to me.
Thanks for all you do to better the lives of humans and canines!
Carole
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Great point Carole……I didn’t hone in on that one……your are probably right but it still felt good to rant a bit!
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Watched the first hour and ended up cuddled with my Mal and tears. Have to finish this work. Hope your family is wel. Thank you.
I can relate Sally.
I’m watching the rest on Friday for sure though.
Kevin,
In the second hour of Glory Hounds is another incident. I cried for nearly the whole 2 hours. I don’t know what hurt my heart more: the handler who loses a dog or the dog who loses a handler.
The show was some amazingly well-done in its depiction of the “humanity” of these K-9s that you could really feel the emotion going both ways. It was a great show. I hope they do another one with more stories of more K-9 teams. They needed to do shows like this 5, 10 years ago when the American public was advocating abandoning the troops entirely since “no one’s doing over there anything anyway.” I got so sick of hearing that in the 2006, 2007 timeframe. People here thought you guys were all shacked up in hotels or something. The visuals in shows like Glory Hounds and like Inside Combat Rescue (cameras embedded with the USAF teams who pick up WIAs during the Golden Hour) really are a great “wake up call” to get those disallusioned Americans back in touch with reality.
-sry
@webbiegrrl
Good post Kevin. But as long as any K9 is left behind and killed when his human returns home, in any country and any battle. As long as News of one four pawed hero making it home, thanks to charitable organisations, are worth a frontpage-headline, the dog might not be equipment on paper anymore, but he sure still is in the decision makers heads. And not to forget, it costs to bring him home. Its inconvenient to bring him home. At least for all controllers and pencil pusher signing it off! Once again its about respect. Respect for these animals who live and die for us fullheartedly.
O wow Natalie…… I’m not sure where you are getting your information from. It seems you are confusing the Afghanistan stray dogs that Soldiers adopt with our Military Working Dogs.
Not a single Military Working Dog is left in Afghanistan or anywhere else for that matter…I guarantee you this. Our government did this in Vietnam……but that was a long time ago.
Reference the stray dogs…… I could talk about this for hours….but the bottom line is……the question to be asked is…should our taxpayer dollars be used to rescue stray Afghan dogs and bring them back to the states?
Hi Kevin, in response to your question about taxpayer money rescuing strays in Afghanistan or any other country they answer to me is plainly NO. much as i would LIKE to be able to help we have so many dogs in shelters & running the streets right now here in the US that we need to focus on THAT problem. too many people think it’s ok for their pet – and yea it includes cats especially – to run around and not be spayed or neutered. then the animal gets pregnant & now they have more animals than they can take care of . believe me ever single one of my formerly stray/feral cats is spayed or neutered. i wouldn’t have it any other way.
Another great post Kevin,keep plugging away at Senator McCain’s office until you get an acknowledgement that MWD’s are Members Of The Armed Services.Good Luck!
Thanks Keith! We won’t stop until the right thing is done.
I watched all of Glory Hounds with a box of Kleenex, but I’m so glad I watched. After seeing the relationship between the handler and the dog, I don’t see how anyone can call these animals equipment. So happy for the work you’re doing–all the way around.
Hi Mary. Thank you. The bond these teams form is amazing.
Absolutely offer their MWD’s R no more equip, then our 2 legged Warriors. They give their lives too save many & they R smarter then some people I know, like the idiot that puts doom as their future. They R loving caring creatures that put their lives totally to save others. Stop murdering our best friends!!!!
Not sure what you mean by murdering our best friends Sheila….
You HAD to mention the hand grenade incident. Now I am sitting here at work in tears remembering poor Zorah. If you haven’t watched the 2nd hour, you will cry then too as there is another incident in that portion. Glory Hounds made me realize how much these soldiers depend on their dogs as well as each other. What really got me is that these dogs are actually targets because of how well they do their jobs.
-Karen
That is absolutely the truth Karen. These dog teams are targets of the enemy…they realize how important the dog teams are…..this is a very dangerous mission.I think the most dangerous…… or at least level with EOD.
I too couldn’t watch Glory Hounds after the first hour and went and curled up with my retired MWD Fanto and cried. There but for fate was my “baby”. No, our dogs are not “equipment” any more than our 2 legged heroes are. They are both brave, work to keep our country safe and go through unimaginable hardships in the name of freedom. Keep them all safe, return them all home. If Glory Hounds ever comes out on disc, I would consider purchasing it to watch in my own time, at my own pace. Thank you for all that you do Kevin.
I hope they put it out there on disk to buy Linda. I would def purchase a copy as well!
If I were to guess, the reference to military equipment was an ill-thought out editing decision. At least I hope so. The military command staff should encourage our troops (and the military jounos) to recognize these K9s are far more than mere tools or equipment, but equal serving members of the combat team. Once you start dehumanizing a living, breathing being the soldier/sailor/Marine has developed a relationship with and trusted his life with, you are only a stones throw away from service members urinating on the corpses of the dead. Oh yeah. That happened. I think there is a correlation in the message sent about how we treat the living – including K9s – and how we treat the dead or captured.
You put this so well Ruben….thank you.
another gem, Kevin, thanks & sharing!
Thanks Marla!
I am emotional over my dogs. I’d never try not to be. But trying to keep emotion out of it, anyone who wants to voice an opinion should be educated by watching any of the programs on MWDs or read a book about them. (Sargeant Rex) They are true heros in every sense of the word. I bet anyone in any branch of the service would agree. It’s hard to imagine they were ever put under the umbrella of “equipment”.
I know Kim…it seems we need to get some of the people in charge in line with reality.
watched all of it online – then went upstairs and laid down with my dogs and cried. seeing the handler touch Zora’s paws just did me in. love your site keep up the great work!
OFG and The Dog Horde (Col Ti, Commander Zander, Princess Kai, and Lucky)
http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.com/p/what-i-know-about-dogs.html
Will do, thanks!
I share your photos on Pinterest and they’re always being repinned.I always give recognition to the photographers and those in the photo.Is there any information on the 1st and 4th photo?Your website is also included with the pin.
Hi Carol. Thanks for sharing my site. The captions for those photos are the same as the last pic…I wish they had put the dog teams name but they didn’t.
Thanks for another insightful post, Kevin. No Way should these faithful dogs be considered equipment. That’s just so harsh. I will call McCain’s office about this. I’d also like to donate to an organization that helps the teams get their dogs home. Any suggestions?
Thank you for all you’re doing, Kevin.
My pleasure Patty! I saw news of a petition on facebook this morning Patty. I will do some research and let everyone know.
I’m very impressed with your blog.
I enjoy your point of view and love the pics!
Great post Kevin, and I agree they are NOT equipmentbut fellow Soldiers but get that through to a Bureaucrats brain, (back in the “Brown Shoe” Army, G.I. stood for general issue and Troops were considered equipment) and like most of your followers I shed a tear for another fallen Hero and slept with my arms around my dogs that night. Keep up the great work Colonel !!
Hi Steve, thanks!
I haven’t watched it. I can’t. Seven dogs is just too many to sleep with. Besides, Tink snores. And I’m a wimp.
These precious soldiers have saved so many lives. They aren’t equipment, and only a few people think of them that way any more. But we do have to keep working in the ones who do, until everybody understands that they are members of our armed forces, just as their handlers are.
I did notice that he described the interpretors equipment, too. Ouch.
O Jani….you have to watch it…..u need to force yourself to do so. It won’t regret it!
Ok. Maybe. Tink is small enough that I can hold her. Maybe Doc too… They can go to sleep and I can hide behind them.
Kevin,
I don’t need to tell you how I felt while watching Glory Hounds but what I’ve found from watching that show and others like Combat Rescue is that is helps me to feel closer to Aaron even though he’s not around anymore. It gives me an even great sense of pride in knowing what he did and that he and Hunter died for a purpose. I also saw an episode of Nat Geo and the battle of Kandahar with two teams from the Army’s 3rd SF Group out of Bragg which is the group Aaron was in. Keep up the good work my friend! Oh I forgot to mention that I attended a function of the MWD memorial at March ARB a couple of weeks ago and it was extremly rewarding but painful at the same time.
Hi Kevin,
I agree completely with everything you say here about the importance of MWDs! Just want to point out that by my reading, the writer of the caption also lists the human interpreters as ‘equipment.’ Seems more like extremely poorly written copy, rather than a deliberate insult, to me.
Thanks for all you do to better the lives of humans and canines!
Carole
Great point Carole……I didn’t hone in on that one……your are probably right but it still felt good to rant a bit!