US Military Dogs Sent On Multiple War Tours, Suffer From Stress, Nightmares

Returning to Serve, Sniff
Sensitive Noses No. 1 Weapon Against Bombs

By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 29, 2009; Page A01


Rambo sounds the warning as soon as the kennel door at Bolling Air Force Base creaks open, a ferocious, thunderous bark as loud and persistent as a jackhammer. In the next stalls, Rocky goes berserk, spinning in tight circles like a top, and Jess, ears perked, bounces excitedly up and down.

Then there's Timi. He stays silent, his head bowed, ears bent. He stands motionless, averting his gaze.

Timi has always been the oddball of the kennel in Southwest Washington, "the quirky one," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Evans, his trainer. The dog is also an Iraq war veteran, and according to his medical file, he has nightmares "characterized by violent kicking." His veterinarian says he has had "readjustment issues" since coming home -- although not severe enough to prevent him from returning to the field.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't just forcing thousands of soldiers and Marines to deploy for two and three tours. The sacrifice is being shared by a key, and growing, part of the U.S. military: highly trained German shepherds and Belgian Malinois. In a war with no front lines, they have become valuable at sniffing out makeshift bombs, which cause most U.S. casualties.

The use of dogs in war, whether as scouts, sentries or trackers, goes back hundreds of years. But since Sept. 11, 2001, the Defense Department has increased the number of military dogs from 1,320 to 2,025, and many have served multiple tours.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR2009032801045.html?wprss=rss_metro

last night and he was trying to rehabilitate a beautiful lab who had a ptsd from being in Iraq. He would shake and cower at any noise. He had also been thru two hurricanes. It was pitiful to see such a beautiful sweet animal reduced to this.

and that was the saddest dog I ever saw. Even when Caesar was done rehabilitating him he still looked sad. They worked that poor dog for five years. There should be a limit on how long they can keep using the dogs.

I would open my home to a good dog like that. I couldn't take a Shepard dog but I have experience with Lab's & I have adopted older dogs in the past. I would consider it an honor to adopt an older dog who has helped save the lives of our service members.

Of course they have ptsd. So sad... :cry: