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ARMY SGT.:
"THEY'RE NOT EQUIPMENT, THEY'RE CHILDREN"
(NECN: Brian Burnell, Hartford, CT) - They are the loyal comrades and protectors of American troops in war zones around the world: military dogs that provide security and sniff out IED's before they can go off.
“Our explosive dogs are trained to save soldier's lives," said Sgt. Jacqueline Fish with the Army National Guard.
Sgt. Fish handles Eda, a six-year-old German Shephard. Eda is a detection dog herself and an absolute sweetheart. Sgt. Fish said while she's on active duty, Eda is treated better than human soldiers. The trouble comes after she retires.
See, Eda, like all military dogs, is labeled as "equipment" by the military. If she's retired overseas, her handler or an adoptive family has to pay her freight home. And then there are medical expenses.
Lisa Phillips was a vet tech in the Army. She cared for dogs and adopted two herself.
SEND A CARE PACKAGE FOR MILITARY
DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS
SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN
"They retire mainly because of osteo-arthritis. Some suffer from PTSD. Some kidney disease,” said Phillips. “Anything that a human soldier can suffer from these animals can suffer from."
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal is sponsoring a bill that would reclassify military dogs as Canine Service Members of the Armed Services and set up a private fund to help pay for the cost of adoption and care of retired dogs. It would not cost taxpayers a dime and would pay a great debt owed to the animals.
"These are heroes,” said Phillips. “These dogs are on the front line."
You might be concerned that a military dog, trained for military use could be dangerous. Sgt. Fish said no way.
But Eda's training does make her different from other dogs.
"Because they're not raised in a home they don't know manners,” said Sgt. Fish, “house manners."
Which means they need to be told what to do.
"They're not equipment,” Sgt. Fish said. “They're children." |
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