Life Saving Dogs

I came across this photo on the German Shepherd Dog Community, a group I belong to on Facebook.  At first I was creeped out by the doggy funeral, or whatever you want to call it.  Then I read the story that accompanied it.  I'll summarize.   These were working dogs in the war zone.  The poster, Michael Hoffman, estimated that bomb sniffing dogs in the military save an average of 3-5 lives a day, alerting soldiers about IEDs and stuff before they explode.  It's dangerous work, and doesn't always work out for the dogs.

It reminded me of when I started my TV career in Guam, and told the story of an old Marine who came back to Guam to put flowers on his working dog's grave.  Guam, if you don't know, is a US Territory.  It's the only American soil occupied by a foreign invader in modern history.  The Marines basically came in, and saved the Chamorro people (now Americans) from the Japanese.  The old vet took me up on Nimitz Hill, pointed down to Apra Harbor, and told the story of how his German Shepherd sniffed out a sniper lurking in the bushes.  Were it not for the dog, my friend would have been a dead man.  The dog took the bullet.  Fifty years later, the Marine--who also happened to be a veteranarian--returned to Guam to honor the dog who saved his life.

That is loyalty, that is honor, and that is why I have a German Shepherd now.

Find Your Dog a JOB!

Zeta, Wellesley Country Club

There's no better place for a dog than on a golf course. Well, maybe a farm--and even then it's a tie. The point is open space and a job mean so much to a dog. Manning the golf cart is nine-year-old, Zeta. The Weimeranar spends almost everyday on the golf course with her owner, Bill the greenskeeper. When he goes to work, she goes too. It's companionship and purpose. This is what dogs live for.

Seeing Zeta when I caddy reminds me of Clyde. Clyde was a golf course dog at Brandywine Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware. Clyde, a Spaniel/Lab mix, would chase the Canada Geese away from the ponds around the first and 18th holes. That was good because those birds dropped bombs everywhere. The average Canada Goose drops five pounds of doo doo a day--very messy. Clyde was cooler than his name, and a heckuva worker. Like Zeta, he'd ride around on Greg the Greenskeeper's cart. If something needed addressing, Clyde was out of that cart so fast. And Clyde loved being fussed over by members.

Zeta's a good girl. I had a good chat with her owner while playing golf myself on a Monday morning. Bill says she loves to be with him. But if it rains, she'd rather stay inside. I'm cool with that too. It's not supposed to rain on golf courses.

Have a cool working dog story to share? Leave a response and include a picture if you have one.