There’s a saying that some heroes have four legs and fur. Nothing could be more true, especially when we think about the brave canine soldiers that serve our country.
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Often, they’re the first line of defense in battle, risking their lives to sniff out IUDs so their human counterparts needn’t do so. In fact, their bravery and scent ability is one of the reasons more of our human soldiers are coming home to their families.
Dogs have been part of the American military since even before Sgt. Stubby, an American Pit Bull Terrier mix, became the most awarded dog of World War I. What’s changed, however, is the level of effort now being made to help retired military and law enforcement dogs find loving homes once their service is complete. The issue, however, is that many of the dogs have trouble getting placed, even with their prior handlers, since they have attack training, field experience or injuries sustained in the line of duty.
One of the most common injuries is PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. We’ve known that PTSD is a serious issue for our human veterans and now we’re finding it poses an equally great risk for their canine counterparts. Issues like this are front-and-center for Save-A-Vet.org, a 501(c)(3) Illinois military and police rescue organization that helps vets of both the canine and human variety.
Imagine saving countless lives only to be told that, even after a heroic level of service, your life isn’t worth saving. That’s the message our retired military dogs face — if they can’t be rescued or rehabilitated, euthanasia is their only option.
That’s why Save-A-Vet’s mission is to rescue our “other forgotten soldiers.” They complete that mission by providing housing for disabled military, law enforcement and first responder human veterans in exchange for those veterans agreeing to care for the homeless canines. Because they share an unspoken understanding that neither may have survived without the other, the resulting bond helps both species of retired vet recover and work through issues like PTSD.
Save-A-Vet is an incredible organization, but it stands alone as military working dogs are still considered to be mere “equipment” and not actual lives or soldiers. Progress was made on January 2nd of this year when President Obama signed into law H.R. 4310, which authorizes the Secretaries of various military services to transfer any Military Working Dog (MWD) back to either Lackland Air Force Base or another location for adoption following retirement.
The Act was established, in part, so individuals wouldn’t have to bear the cost of veterinary care or overseas transportation prior to adoption. Unfortunately, some key parts of the legislation were omitted; specifically, legislation to recognize military dogs as service members and not equipment. Save-A-Vet, on the other hand, makes certain the dogs are recognized for their performance and have a life after war. Save-A-Vet treats the dogs the way they deserve to be treated: as retired military personnel. What’s more, they do so without any funding from the government. Everything Save-A-Vet does is funded through private donations.
Save-A-Vet makes it possible for human and canine soldiers to lean on each other when they’re startled by a loud noise, to calm one another during a panic attack, to keep each other company when nightmares make sleep impossible and to understand when one or both of them just don’t feel like seeing anyone else in the outside world. They have each other. They trust one another.
Although the PTSD suffered by trained military dogs and human veterans is so much worse than anything the common man experiences, they still have the ability to overcome and thrive with their bonds of support and trust. It’s just one more way humans and dogs work together for the betterment of each individual — and Save-A-Vet is showing the world how this can be done.
With outside support, Save-A-Vet.org can provide miracles for the brave individuals, human and canine alike, who have risked everything for our safety and freedom. Visit www.Save-A-Vet.org to find out more about this amazing organization today.
Photo: Save-A-Vet representative Danny Scheurer with Nero, retired military dog and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.
