Military Working Dog kennel breaking ground

TIKRIT, IRAQ

10.19.2006

Story by Pfc. Carlee Ross 

25th Infantry Division   

by Pfc. Carlee Ross
25th ID PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – When people think of the conflict in Iraq, perhaps images of Soldiers on patrol come to mind, but what is often overlooked are their nonhuman counterparts.

Military Working Dogs (MWD) and their handlers from every military service are vital tools in the war on terror and have been deploying worldwide to support and safeguard military bases and activities and to detect bombs and other explosives before they cause harm.

The dogs and their handlers who are based out of Contingency Operating Base (COB) Speicher, Iraq, are finally getting a gravely needed kennel built. Ground work started early Oct and is scheduled for move-in around the end of Nov.

"The last three years we have had dogs in theater the requirements for proper facilities have not been met," said Sgt. 1st Class Chris Laye, 25th Infantry Division MWD Program Manager.

Currently dogs are living with the handlers in their rooms, which creates dependency and separation anxiety for the dogs, said Laye. He is also concerned for other personnel who could be in danger coming in contact with a dog with out a handler.

Training is constantly needed with the dogs and has been almost impossible without a facility. Having the dogs living in the same place as their handler not only creates dependency problems but also creates obedience problems. There are no secluded areas to conduct obedience training and the dogs are easily distracted.

The dog kennel will be built as a closed compound, which means only personnel who have authorization to enter are aloud. Misti, a Belgian Malinois is a four year old Patrol Explosives Protective Dog has been with Staff Sgt. Philip Mohs for about three years. Mohs is the kennel master in charge of 10 dogs here, from the 17th Military Police (MP) Detachment, Fort Jackson, S.C. Misti will be one of 10 dogs to benefit from this new facility.

"They are highly trained animals, and we greatly need to have adequate care and facilities for them," said Laye.

Just like Soldiers, the dogs need a place to be groomed and bathed. They also need a place to conduct their mandatory proficiency training once a week. Their training includes obedience training, narcotics and bomb searching.

"The military invests more money in a dog than they do in training a single Soldier, our concern is to ensure their investment is being properly used," said Laye.

They are trained to be apart of mission support by finding explosives, IED making materials, weapons caches, cocaine, heroin and marijuana. A number of them are also patrol trained, they can search, pursue and detain escaping personnel or anti-Iraqi forces.

"The money this facility is going to take to build will ensure millions of dollars of assets are being properly maintained," said Laye.

The main purpose of an MWD is to support the war on terror by being a 'combat multiplier.' The dog teams keep the service members safe, in order to accomplish that the dogs have to be taken care of as well, which is why this kennel compound is being built.

"One dog team can save the lives of many by getting explosives off the street," said Mohs.

• Date Taken: 10.19.2006
• Date Posted: 10.19.2006 13:14
• Story ID: 8065
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ