Why Four Paws and a Wet Nose Equal a Soldier’s Best Friend

January 14, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Guest post by Maya Szydlowski

Dogs of all breeds have been used in combat since the beginning of ancient times. Several breeds, in fact, originated due to the needs of war including some of our favorite gentile giants like the Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. Whether they were toted around for companionship or used on the frontlines, there is no denying how important canines have been to soldiers for centuries.

Although hundreds of dogs remain on patrol and watch in and around several U.S. military bases, in recent decades, the relationship between the dog and the soldier has evolved. While dogs — in particular German and Dutch Shepards and Belgian Malinois, many originating from the Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program — are still used for bomb sniffing and search and rescue endeavors in combat zones, they are hardly used as messengers and combat weapons like they once were. The Military Working Dog Program still trains hundreds of dogs for military protection and detection of bombs and other harmful substances, with an estimated 2,300 dogs that are currently on duty throughout the world. However, now in conjunction with their wartime service, dogs are also being used to help soldiers recover from the wounds of war – both physically and mentally.

The VA regularly provides service dogs to veterans suffering from loss of vision and those confined to a wheelchair, and new research has proven that canine counterparts are also a great way for soldiers to recover from PTSD – a crippling mental and emotional condition caused by the hardships of war. The dogs, sometimes former soldiers themselves, are able to provide the unconditional support needed to soldiers suffering from PTSD, with many reporting that their dog just seems to “know” when they need extra care or are having a flashback or bad dream.

Dogs that face combat, much like their human counterparts, are often viewed as war heroes – working equally as hard with incredible endurance and determination for months at a time. However, just like a human soldier, many returning war dogs face psychological hardships such as PTSD. But PTSD doesn’t mean the end of the road for service canines. Military dogs have proven to be highly resilient, providing insight into human soldier PTSD, and many make full recoveries and are able to return to service. For those that don’t fully recover, many take residence with veterans or other like counterparts whom understand their condition. There is no doubt that dog’s won’t continue to play an integral part in soldier life. Whether standing watch, sniffing out harmful substances, or offering a warm lick when needed, the dog has earned the title of “war hero,” and should be heralded as such.

Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s top dedicated VA lender.

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Why Four Paws and a Wet Nose Equal a Soldier’s Best Friend

January 14, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Guest post by Maya Szydlowski

Dogs of all breeds have been used in combat since the beginning of ancient times. Several breeds, in fact, originated due to the needs of war including some of our favorite gentile giants like the Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. Whether they were toted around for companionship or used on the frontlines, there is no denying how important canines have been to soldiers for centuries.

Although hundreds of dogs remain on patrol and watch in and around several U.S. military bases, in recent decades, the relationship between the dog and the soldier has evolved. While dogs — in particular German and Dutch Shepards and Belgian Malinois, many originating from the Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program — are still used for bomb sniffing and search and rescue endeavors in combat zones, they are hardly used as messengers and combat weapons like they once were. The Military Working Dog Program still trains hundreds of dogs for military protection and detection of bombs and other harmful substances, with an estimated 2,300 dogs that are currently on duty throughout the world. However, now in conjunction with their wartime service, dogs are also being used to help soldiers recover from the wounds of war – both physically and mentally.

The VA regularly provides service dogs to veterans suffering from loss of vision and those confined to a wheelchair, and new research has proven that canine counterparts are also a great way for soldiers to recover from PTSD – a crippling mental and emotional condition caused by the hardships of war. The dogs, sometimes former soldiers themselves, are able to provide the unconditional support needed to soldiers suffering from PTSD, with many reporting that their dog just seems to “know” when they need extra care or are having a flashback or bad dream.

Dogs that face combat, much like their human counterparts, are often viewed as war heroes – working equally as hard with incredible endurance and determination for months at a time. However, just like a human soldier, many returning war dogs face psychological hardships such as PTSD. But PTSD doesn’t mean the end of the road for service canines. Military dogs have proven to be highly resilient, providing insight into human soldier PTSD, and many make full recoveries and are able to return to service. For those that don’t fully recover, many take residence with veterans or other like counterparts whom understand their condition. There is no doubt that dog’s won’t continue to play an integral part in soldier life. Whether standing watch, sniffing out harmful substances, or offering a warm lick when needed, the dog has earned the title of “war hero,” and should be heralded as such.

Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s top dedicated VA lender.

Be the first to like this post.Entry filed under: In the News. Tags: .

View the original article here

Why Four Paws and a Wet Nose Equal a Soldier’s Best Friend

January 14, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Guest post by Maya Szydlowski

Dogs of all breeds have been used in combat since the beginning of ancient times. Several breeds, in fact, originated due to the needs of war including some of our favorite gentile giants like the Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound. Whether they were toted around for companionship or used on the frontlines, there is no denying how important canines have been to soldiers for centuries.

Although hundreds of dogs remain on patrol and watch in and around several U.S. military bases, in recent decades, the relationship between the dog and the soldier has evolved. While dogs — in particular German and Dutch Shepards and Belgian Malinois, many originating from the Defense Department’s Military Working Dog Program — are still used for bomb sniffing and search and rescue endeavors in combat zones, they are hardly used as messengers and combat weapons like they once were. The Military Working Dog Program still trains hundreds of dogs for military protection and detection of bombs and other harmful substances, with an estimated 2,300 dogs that are currently on duty throughout the world. However, now in conjunction with their wartime service, dogs are also being used to help soldiers recover from the wounds of war – both physically and mentally.

The VA regularly provides service dogs to veterans suffering from loss of vision and those confined to a wheelchair, and new research has proven that canine counterparts are also a great way for soldiers to recover from PTSD – a crippling mental and emotional condition caused by the hardships of war. The dogs, sometimes former soldiers themselves, are able to provide the unconditional support needed to soldiers suffering from PTSD, with many reporting that their dog just seems to “know” when they need extra care or are having a flashback or bad dream.

Dogs that face combat, much like their human counterparts, are often viewed as war heroes – working equally as hard with incredible endurance and determination for months at a time. However, just like a human soldier, many returning war dogs face psychological hardships such as PTSD. But PTSD doesn’t mean the end of the road for service canines. Military dogs have proven to be highly resilient, providing insight into human soldier PTSD, and many make full recoveries and are able to return to service. For those that don’t fully recover, many take residence with veterans or other like counterparts whom understand their condition. There is no doubt that dog’s won’t continue to play an integral part in soldier life. Whether standing watch, sniffing out harmful substances, or offering a warm lick when needed, the dog has earned the title of “war hero,” and should be heralded as such.

Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s top dedicated VA lender.

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Not Photoshopped: Fallen Soldier’s Dog in Halo Beam of Sun

Hero walks into beam of light (Image: ABC News)

Hero in the beam of light (Image: ABC News)

The day before he was killed by an IED in Iraq, Justin Rollins found a litter of puppies living with their mom in a portable toilet. He and others in his Army squad were smitten, and spent time holding and snuggling with the pups. Someone took several photos of Rollins with a couple of the pups. He couldn’t wait to send them to his fiancee back in New Hampshire. He told her she was going to love the photos. He didn’t tell her what the subject matter was, so it would be a surprise.

But before Rollins’ fiancee could look at the e-mail, she got the terrible news of Rollins’ death. At the funeral two weeks later, Army brass asked his grieving parents if they could do anything for them. The couple had one wish: To get one of the pups their son had held, a pup that had made him so happy just the day before he died.

It was a tall order, and by a miracle (and a lot of lobbying by congressmen and others with clout), it happened. Hero made it back to New Hampshire, where she lives a heavenly life with the Rollinses.

Justin Rollins with puppy Hero, the night he found her and her siblings in Iraq (Image ABC News)

Mom Rhonda says the dog sometimes looks at her in such a way that she wonders if her son’s spirit is somehow in the dog. She has always had a deep connection with her son. In an ABC story, she says that at 6:30 a.m. on the day he was killed, she was getting ready for work and she felt a big jolt go through her. She worried it had something to do with Justin. It turns out that he died at pretty much that moment.

ABC News was recently at the Rollinses’ home to tape part of the story of Justin and Hero. During the session, cameras captured footage of a beam of sunshine enveloping Hero. It’s the kind of sunshine some people call a “miracle sky.”

The moment was not lost on ABC News’ Kimberly Launier, who was holding one of the cameras:

“All of a sudden, the clouds broke and a light began to solidify in a beam directly down on Hero — a kind of vertical halo. As this dramatic ray of light was shining on Hero she turned to look at me, and it was all I could do to hold the camera steady and not drop it in astonishment.

“It was an unforgettable moment, and made me wonder if in fact Justin was in there. Then the light vanished.”

The moment didn’t surprise Justin’s parents. “I truly, truly believe I’ll see him again,” said dad Skip, “because he sent us a sign so many times that he’s okay, things that are too astronomical to not believe.”

What do you think, Dogsters? Could this have been a sign from Justin? Or was it likely just a nice interplay of camera lens and light source, with the dog in just the right place? Have you had any events like this with your dog? Please share your thoughts and experiences!

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Help Spread the Word: Organization Helps Pets of Deployed Soldiers

Dozer and Staff Sergeant Steve Meduna reunited after 13 months apart. Dozer was in the caring hands of a Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet foster family during Meduna's long absence. For a video of their joyous reunion, scroll to the end of this post.

When soldiers are deployed, most do their utmost to find care for their pets. But try as they might, some can’t find anyone willing to take the pets for a protracted period. To make matters worse, soldiers can be given a very short time to report for duty. Those who can’t find long-term care have little choice but to relinquish their beloved pets to a shelter or rescue group. Some are adopted. Many are euthanized.

Six years ago, friends Linda Spurlin-Dominik and Carol Olmedo set out to put an end to this heartbreaking scenario. They founded Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet (GASP). The nonprofit organization has placed hundreds of pets in loving foster homes, and has a list of about 2,500 great foster homes nationwide. GASP matches dogs and fosters. The fosters tend to keep in regular contact with the deployed soldiers, sending photos and videos and updates on their pets. When soldiers return, from three to 13 months later, fosters return the pets — hard as that can be.

GASP can always use more foster homes, but what GASP really wants to do is spread the word about its services to military personnel. Apparently there’s a dearth of awareness about this program in the military. Too many dogs of soldiers are still ending up in shelters. If you know of any military service members who might need GASP’s services, either now or in the future, please forward this article to them and have them click on the link to submit a pet for fostering. Also, if you happen to know any military bloggers, that’s proven to be a really effective way of letting troops know about the program.

Check out the video below for a look at how the program helped a soldier and his best friend.

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(A big Dogster thank-you to tipsters Cookie Dog and Steven M. Greene who each recently wrote to tell me about this great program!)

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