The Dogs of War

"Cry, 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war.” Julius Caesar", Act III, scene i.


His ears twitched. One of the soldiers whispered, “Geronimo.” He’d heard that word before, during the intensive training sessions of the last few weeks. Unlike other military dogs trained to sniff out drugs or explosives, he was a specialized search dog known as a combat tracker, who could sniff out a piece of clothing and then find the person it belonged to, even if the scent was several days old.

The humans grew quiet. Cairo sat at attention trying to decipher the emotions of his comrades. His handler placed his hands around his K9 Storm Intruder vest, a canine bulletproof flak jacket, and shook. Nothing loose, no sound to alert the inhabitants of the compound. Cairo and the members of Navy SEAL Team 6 were ready…

You’ve probably heard about Cairo, the Belgian Shepherd. He’s a member of the elite task force that stormed the hiding place of Osama bin Laden. Military working dogs have been part of the American armed forces since the 1830s, being used to track Native Americans and runaway slaves during the Seminole Wars.

So what exactly do these canines do, and how do they learn to sniff out bombs and bad guys? Are they all trained to do what Cairo did? The Dogs of War, written by Lisa Rogak, answers these questions and many more. She writes about the contributions and achievements of the military working dog around the world, and how Cairo is just one example of the thousands of loyal and highly trained dogs that protect our armed forces throughout the world.

You’ll learn how the military acquires the dogs that enter the various training programs, and the different kinds of jobs that canines perform in the military. Lisa also delves into the long and heroic history of dogs serving on the battlefield. In fact, it’s believed that the Egyptians used them in battle as early as 4000 B.C. In ancient Rome, there are references to armor-clad canines, and in the Middle Ages, soldiers trained dogs to carry fire on their backs, run into enemy camps, and shake off the fire.

You’ll read about the military veterinarians who have treated them since World War Two—America’s canine troops first served in great numbers during that conflict—both under the harsh conditions of the front lines, and in the latest high-tech facilities rivaling human soldiers.

There are funny and heartwarming stories too. There’s the tale of Rex, a Vietnam-era dog that was to be euthanized, because he had recently lost thirteen pounds and could no longer bite, an important part of a sentry dog’s job description. The diagnosis was kidney failure, but his handler thought he had lost so much weight because his teeth were hurting.

His roommate was an Air Force dentist, and he found two fractured canines inside Rex’s mouth. The dentist started a covert operation, as the orders were to put the dog to sleep. He performed two root canals, and procured two troy ounces of gold for the crowns by using Rex’s actual service number. Shortly after, Rex returned to duty, which was the only thing that kept the dentist out of Leavenworth, for going against direct orders.

Scattered throughout the book are the stories of special dogs and handlers who have gone beyond the call of duty—such as Robert Hartsock and Duke. Hartsock holds the distinction of being the only dog handler in U.S. military history to be awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of his fellow soldiers, both human and canine.

The Dogs of War offers a glimpse into the lives that these special dogs lead, from pup to retirement. There’s even an index with organizations and associations that help retired military working dogs find good homes. You'll see that Cairo, while highly trained, was only one of many. One dog in an incredible program that includes thousands of loyal, brave four-legged soldiers…

This column is dedicated to all veterans. Those brave souls who have served with courage, love and loyalty. You may be gone, but never forgotten.