MWD: Military Working Dogs


 
J

JLHillman

TVWBB Fan
Military Working Dogs. I adopted one last year. Her name is Élan, read Ellen. Our first meeting was memorable, I had treats in my hand and she lapped them out of my hand without one touch of a tooth. I brought her a Kong, she ripped it out out of my hand with joy. I had flown into Orlando after qualifying to adopt her. It was our first meeting. She took to me and I her.

She was a hard case, 10 years old with arthritis and hip problems, I knew they would put her down if she wasn't adopted. An only dog, aka no other dog in the house she was hard to adopt out. I knew she was the type they would destroy, not wanting to feed, house and care for a dog at the end of her usefulness. I rented an SUV for the drive back to Houston and we had a nice three days getting to know each other. I never had a dog that was trained to obey.

We have been together for a year now, I spoil her and she obeys her commands when she feels like listening, oh, they did tell me she could be "willful". They told me she was an only dog, I thought sole dog in the house. No she means " only dog in the world!", it reminds me of the movie Training Day, she barks "King Kong ain't got nothing on me!".

I love her to death and could not imagine my life without her. She is my shadow, my protector. I am her sugar daddy, spoiling her with the things I know she had been denied. She spent 6 years in Iraq, 4 in Afghanistan and I hope her last memories are of ice cream and cookies for dessert after dinner, a warm bed and a grateful owner who worships her. I hope to see her when I cross the bar.
 
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Very cool story! Many props for rescuing a vet! While we haven't rescued service dogs,all the dogs Pammi and I have had are rescues. They are the best!
 
JL, that's a very touching story. Ellen sounds like a wonderful dog! You are giving her the perfect setting for the rest of her life. Bless you sir!
 
Len, I have been guilty of many things, that is one of the. At zero dark thirty I revert to type. Another bad habit is run on sentences. Having read Das Kapital in school, I saw the worstnrun on sentences and immediately set about improvement.
 
Phil, I couldn't bear knowing that I left a man behind. These dogs are shanghaied into service, they serve without complaint. My girl spent 10 years in country. GSDs life span is about 12, how could I turn my back?
 
I wanted to get the story out there. There are many dogs coming back as we leave Afghanistan. You know what happens to surplus equipment, if it can't be used it's sold or destroyed. When we left Vietnam, we left many of our dogs behind. At least this time we are at least getting them back here, giving them a shot at a home.
 
Love that story. Thank you for sharing it.

With that thread title, we'll now be under surveillance though. :D
 
If you have a chance could you post the info on where and how these hero dogs can be adopted please? Could be more
possible adopters here. Thanks!
 
Thank you for doing your part in saving that wonderful pup. Having just lost my best friend, Holly a little over a month ago (see avatar) we are now in the hunt to rescue another Golden Retriever our 6th since 1979.

This time I want to give back some of the love our canine friends give us, when I was recently in the hospital some folks with therapy dogs came through and I was amazed at how they cheered folks up, me included. So that's what I'll be looking for a golden to spread a little sunshine to those that aren't doing so well.

Thanks again for your story it truly made my day!
 
Thanks for doing that and I apologize for what I am about to type ... but ..."this post is useless without pics" ;) Let's see a photo of your new friend :)



JLHillman said:
Military Working Dogs. I adopted one last year. Her name is Élan, read Ellen. Our first meeting was memorable, I had treats in my had and she lapped them out of my hand without one touch of a tooth. I brought her a Kong, she ripped it out out of my hand with joy. I had flown into Orlando after qualifying to adopt her. It was our first meeting. She took to me and I her. She was a hard case, 10 years old with arthritis and hip problems, I knew they would put her down if she wasn't adopted. An only dog, aka no other dog in the house she was hard to adopt out. I knew she was the type they would destroy, not wanting to feed, house and care for a dog at the end of her usefulness. I rented an SUV for the drive back to Houston and we had a nice three days getting to know each other. I never had a dog that was trained to obey. We have been together for a year now, I spoil her and she obeys her commands when she feels like listening, oh, they did tell me she could be "willful". They told me she was an only dog, I thought sole dog in the house. No she means " only dog in the world!", it reminds me of the movie Training Day, she barks "King Kong ain't got nothing on me!". I love her to death and could not imagine my life without her. She is my shadow, my protector. I am her sugar daddy, spoiling her with the things I know she had been denied. She spent 6 years in Iraq, 4 in Afghanistan and I hope her last memories are of ice cream and cookies for dessert after dinner, a warm bed and a grateful owner who worships her. I hope to see her when I cross the bar.
Click to expand...
 
The website is missionk9rescue.org they help connect people with available dogs. I knew more about Élan when I got there because of their data sheet. The thread title is as accurate as it could be. Should read MWD but WMD is just as well, she can be hard on her toys. Um, the Lacrosse balls are the only thing she can't destroy, regulation basketballs, footballs, baseballs, anything inflated or stuffed or not is on death row here. Squeaky toys have their noise makers Surgically removed and destroyed. She is a big baby around people, getting more attention than me. I seem to be the leash holder something to hold her in place so she can soak up the love.
 
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I have the pics but I am temporarily unable to log on. My computer is in the shop and my laptop gets me to the log in but I cannot remember the password. Tomorrow I do the reset thing but it is like being flogged.
 
OK,OK. In the interest of full disclosure. The day I met her she dropped me like a rock. The Kong I brought her was on the ground, the handler that brought her out reached for it. I was in street clothes, loafers slacks, etc. She saw Kevin reach for the Kong and she yanked me clear off my feet. I did a nice face plant on the grass, I kid you not. My face was the first thing that came back to earth. She ate that kong and another before I got wise.
 
Look, I am not involved in any way. My interest is strictly get these dogs a home. They served their country, they hung their rear end out there for nothing more than another meal. You will find no more better companion than a MWD. I cannot fathom my life without Élan. Rain or shine, good times, bad times, she is there. Don't allow the military to destroy them, Élan was on the short list. An only dog, people friendly, animal adverse, bad hips and knees. But there is no quit in her, the snap of her teeth when she misses a frisbee or ball tells the tale. She will quit when they start to push earth over her grave. She is my baby girl, I am daddy. Well trained she follows commands when she feels like it. They did say she could be willful, that was an understatement. No toddlers or babies in the house, small dogs are problematic due to a GSD prey drive. But no better friend or partner in crime. Elan is my partner in crime, she freaks out drive through cashiers. When that big GSD head pops out of the window, tiny Mustang, big GSD head do the math.
 
Am I doing this for selfish reasons? Well yes, I am. I am not associated with any organization and there are many out there seeking to adopt dogs. If you have room in your heart to house and feed a vet, do it. Élan would approve, baby girl wants you to find happiness and she hopes you are a push over. She made me type this, damn dog.;)
 
I have looked at the site and may sign up. The 18 month wait would work for me but right now I have two bouviers and it wouldn't be fair to them or a new one from the program. right now, thank you for giving her a home but we need photos, maybe you just have a chahueyhuey ;)
 
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