War Dogs

From the Egyptians unleashing them on enemy forces to the Native Americans using them as watchdogs and draft animals, canines have served a purpose for centuries. Roman historians Plutarch and Pliny, as well as Greek historian Strabo, wrote of dogs “being protected with coats of mail” (Losowsky 2013). Greeks depicted canines in murals celebrating the Battle of Marathon, however these are not the only historical accounts of military dog service. They have been seen with Attila the Hun, William the Conqueror, the Spanish conquistadors, Frederick the Great, and succeeding generations of English rulers and leaders. Napoleon describes war dogs and their loyalty in his memoirs, “I walked over the battlefield and among the slain, a poodle killed bestowing a last lick upon his dead friend’s face. Never had anything on any battlefield caused me a like emotion” (Losowsky 2013). Germany used nearly 30,000 canine medics that were sent out into no-man’s-land, during World War I. While Napoleon troops were surrounded by poodles, evident in his account of a battle, there have been multiple breeds that serviced military personnel throughout time. Originally, the Dogs for Defense (DFD) organization had 32 potential breeds and crosses, but the list was narrowed down to seven breeds by the end of 1944. The seven chosen breeds were the German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Belgian Sheepdog, Collie, Siberian husky, Malamute and Eskimo dog. Smaller dogs also have a role in service: the United States Air Force uses Cairn Terriers and the United States Navy has enlisted Beagles. While the Army routinely uses larger breeds such as German Shepherds and the Belgian Sheepdog, or a cross of one of these breeds. Military dogs have held many duties throughout his...

... middle of paper ...

...lped save the lives of many with his ability to alert of incoming attacks and boosting morale among forces (“Sergeant Stubby” 2013). These canine soldiers will always be remembered by their comrades for their heroism and invaluable support of their human counterparts.

War dogs have warned of gas attacks, the presence of explosives, drugs and human beings. Wounded soldiers were identified in order for a rescue to occur and the dying ones were brought one last comfort of life before passing from the battlefield. Those veterans have become accustomed to the use of dogs in therapy after returning from the battlefield, as have active duty military personnel have become accustomed to having dogs serving with them. They will be seen wherever you look. Why is that? Because they have served us well and will continue to be ready to adapt for what the future may hold for us.