Veterans Day honoring all who served, including military canines

"New York's Veteran's Day parade honored all veterans, even the canine ones. For the first time in the parade's history, six military dogs marched alongside the soldiers they served with. ....  The dogs are matched to veterans based on their personalities, Driscoll said."  ABC News/Geetika Rudra, 11/11/14. "Dogs of war get heroes' salute at New York Veteran's Day Parade." Read more, view photographs.

Honoring all who served

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"Popular adages may promise every dog its day, but the sad reality is canines that serve in the US military — sniffing out bombs, mines and other explosive devices — aren’t even guaranteed return transport after multiple tours of duty overseas.  Often, they are left behind with new owners abroad when their handlers return home.

“The dogs and these veterans work side by side. To separate them, I think, is a crime,” says Lois Pope, a longtime veterans advocate who began lobbying last year to return all four-legged defenders to the states for adoption by the servicement with whom they’d bonded.

Since April the American Humane Association — along with Mission K9 Rescue and the US War Dogs Association — has facilitated the reunion of 20 retired military dogs with their loving human veterans.  For the first time, six of these heroic duos will be honored on a float in the Veterans Day Parade this Tuesday."  New York Post/Joanna Prisco, 11/8/14.  "Meet the 6 military dogs to be honored in Veterans Day parade."  Read more, view photgraphs.

"According to the American Humane Society, the six military hero dog teams featured on the parade saved the lives of between 150-200 service members. ....All of the dogs on the parade float are retired, and have been adopted by the soldier or Marine who was their handler during combat." KPBS news 8/Beth Ford Roth,11/10/14. "Military dogs honored during Veterans Day Parade," includes Army sergeant reunited with his dog, video, 2:30 minutes.

Related - USA Today,11/11/14.  Medill news Service for Military Times/Ashley Cullins.  "The Hallmark Channel and the American Humane Association have partnered to honor a different kind of hero this Veteran's Day - the four legged kind",  video, about 1.30 minutes. 

Note photographs - left from Its a Lab Thing; right from Beaches Animal Clinic.

Posted by Kathy Meeh