Every year hundreds of dogs return home from their service out on the battle field or from working patrol with the police. Most of them start their lives at Lackland Airforce base in Texas. When these dogs return they are no longer the pups they once were. Their spirits have changed along with their demeanor and attitude. They suffer just as much as their human partners. The physical and emotional scars are with them for life. Without someone to advocate for them they are left like many of America's veterans. They have no one to care for them and no one to show them the respect they deserve as a war hero.

My friend, Barbara Flannery, is an advocate for the war dogs. She sponsors Mission K9 Rescue, an organization that sends care packages to deployed dogs and their handlers. She gave me some insight as to what it’s like for America’s four-legged heroes.

How long have you been affiliated with War Dogs?

I became involved with war dogs about eight years ago, around 2009 after seeing the way that these animals were treated after serving for their country.

Would you consider it a rewarding experience?

It’s the most rewarding thing I have ever been involved in. Hearing the stories and seeing the photos is an amazing experience. I became fascinated with learning about the dogs’ intelligence.

What got you interested in rescuing war dogs?

After learning about how the dogs were coming back from serving in the wars. What happened to them in Vietnam was heartbreaking.

How often do they return with issues?

Most are deemed unadoptable because of behavioral issues or PTSD. It’s very common for the dogs to come back with PTSD, missing limbs, and behavioral issues.

What happens to the dogs when they come home like this?

The dogs that come back from the wars are evaluated and most are said to be unadoptable. To avoid the risk of the dogs attacking someone after adoption most are euthanized. The lucky ones are taken in by organizations like Mission K9 Rescue or USWDA (United States War Dog Association).Their mission is to rehabilitate these dogs and get them adopted. The USWDA will help pay for a retired war dogs medications so it makes it a little easier on the person adopting them.

How likely is it that the dogs get put down?

A lot has changed since Vietnam. Bomb dogs are more likely to get adopted because they were not trained for combat. Sentry dogs, on the other hand, are more likely to be euthanized. These dogs were trained to kill and keep their handler safe at all costs.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to adopt a war dog?

A retired war dog should not be someone's first pet. If your goal is to adopt a retired war dog it’s going to be older and have some sort of health issues so be prepared to deal with both of those factors. Be prepared for the vet bills. The needs of a war dog after service could be compared to that of a special needs child. If you adopt one with PTSD anything can turn a good day into a bad one. My thoughts about adopting one are someone should do it. I have the knowledge and ability, so why not me. If you are set on adopting a war dog do some research, study the breed and talk to others who have experience with the breed or someone who is an advocate for them.

A little history about Barbara and the dogs of war.

Barbara has not adopted any war dogs but she has had a couple of German Shepards that were police service dogs. Her first German Shepard was a candidate for the police academy but due to gastric dilation, commonly known as bloat, he was dismissed from the academy and Barbara adopted him. Another was a guard dog at Riker’s Island penitentiary. He was going to be put down after retirement but she saved him and gave him the TLC that he needed. The pictures below are of Barbara and her first German Shepard which shall remain nameless per Barbara's request.

Barbara gave me some background history on the training process of war dogs.

German Shepherds and Malinois are usually the dogs chosen to serve as war dogs. They possess a higher level of intelligence and vocabulary than most other breeds of dogs. They are also capable of forming a closer bond with their handler than most other breeds.

Lackland Air Force base in Lackland, Texas is where all the dogs are bred and trained. Males are trained and deployed more often than females due to the nature of the female mothering instincts. Females are used for the breeding program. Once a puppy goes through the selection process they are moved to basic training. Training for basic patrol school is 13 weeks. After this, various courses are fine tuned to the dog.

Most dogs are cross trained meaning that they are skilled in at least two distinct categories. After training and the dog is ready for deployment the dog enters military service one rank higher than its handler. This keeps the handler from mistreating the dog. This did not come into effect until after the Vietnam War where dogs were not given a rank. They were considered equipment.

After a little research about the Vietnam war, I found out the horrible truth that the dogs and their handlers endured after the war was over. 4000+ dogs served in the Vietnam War and not even 10 percent of them returned home. This was due to the fact that the dogs were considered equipment and with the America forces being in such a hurry to be done with the Vietnam War most got left behind or euthanized.

This video gives a look at the missions that the handlers and their dogs shared during Vietnam. Many of the dogs saved their handler’s lives and formed a bond closer than any other dog ever would. Here's a story of America's Unsung Heroes. Don't forget your tissues! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewwu4nVGu-8&feature=share