THIRTY YEARS AFTER VIETNAM, THE BATTLE TO END ROUTINE KILLING OF AGING WAR DOGS CONTINUES

Last June, Robby, an eight-year-old military working dog who was cross-trained to perform both patrol and detection work, was beginning to suffer from progressive arthritis and elbow dysplasia. Because full-time duty was no longer possible, Robby was shipped back to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, home to the Military Working Dog Agency, where he faced "evaluation" for half-time duty training new handlers. If it was determined he couldn't even do this work, he was going to be euthanized, as was standing policy. Robby's handler pleaded with higher-ups to adopt the silver muzzled Belgian Malinois so he could enjoy a loving home for whatever quality time he had left. His request was denied. The handler went public with his dog's plight, resulting in thousands of emails to the Department of Defense and Congressional representatives from outraged dog lovers and veteran dog handlers.

Ultimately the war dog euthanasia issue got the attention of Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, who drafted a bill stipulating an adoption alternative to the military's euthanasia tradition. House Resolution 5314 was approved unanimously in both the Congress and the Senate, and President Clinton signed it on November 6, 2000.

Unfortunately, the new law came too late to save Robby. On January 19, 2001-as inaugural fireworks flew in our nation's capitol-he was being euthanized by Lackland. After being warehoused at the base through a bitterly cold winter, his arthritic condition had worsened to the point where he could no longer even stand. War dog retirement advocates had been pressing for details on Robby's physical condition since November, but it wasn't until the day before the dog's death that the Air Force released any information. Even though an interim foster home was available for Robby, by then his physical condition had deteriorated too far for him to have any kind of quality life. So in the end, the Air Force "won," and a valiant, loving dog was dead.

It would be hoped that the passage of HR 5314, now known as Public Law 106-446, would be acted on with enthusiasm by our Department of Defense. In February, a DoD spokesperson said that Lackland was going to be working on how to implement the law within the next ninety days. But after doing nothing but euthanize for half a century, does our military have the motivation and expertise to prepare aging service dogs for real retirement to a real home? Would they know how to screen potential adopters and match dogs with compatible guardians? Will they take a proactive stance to seek adoptive homes for the dogs? We just don't know.

WAR DOGS REMAIN: WHERE DO THEY GO?

There also are concerns about what the military does with its dogs after they have died. According to some sources, the bodies are incinerated and have been tossed out with garbage. Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, where an annual Fallen Soldier Salute has been performed for decades to honor the dogs of war, has kindly offered to set aside a special parcel of land specifically for the scattering of war dog ashes--at no cost to taxpayers or the government. The plea was made directly to DoD and through Congressman Bartlett; that Lackland release the cremated remains of Robby so at least in death he might finally come home to a respectful resting place where his memory will be cared for in perpetuity.

Lackland acknowledged that Robby had indeed been cremated, but that he might (or might not) be interred in "a Department of Defense cemetery." Repeated requests for specifics on this alleged war dog graveyard, its location, how it is maintained, and the date of any planned funeral, have been met with silence. The question of releasing other war dogs' ashes so they too might be received at Hartsdale has so far been completely ignored by Lackland and the DoD.

By the end of this year, another 200 "Robbies" are going to face euthanization when they become too old or physically damaged to work.

UPDATE! UPDATE!

APRIL 17, 2001
San Antonio, Texas--

United States Air Force officials have announced the first official retirement of a military dog since the end of World War II. According to the Military Working Dog Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, "Ronny" (not to be confused with the belated Robby), an eleven-year-old Belgian Malinois, might have remained in service until his death had it not been for a recent change in law and military policy about what to do with its older canine soldiers.

"He's a lucky dog," said Army Major Dawn Harris, a veterinarian at Lackland. "The first lucky dog."

Lackland is releasing the cross-trained patrol and drug detection dog to live out his remaining days with Marine Sergeant Kevin Bispham. As kennel master at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, Bispham was Ronny's handler for more than three years.

"I love Ronny, and it's so exciting to finally be able to bring him home," Bispham said. "He's done his time. Now its time for him to take it easy and not work any more." Bispham was due to take custody of Ronny after he moved from an apartment into a base housing unit with a fenced yard. "Once he's here, he's going to get to do whatever he wants. Ronny's just going to be a pet."

Although the new retirement law allows for the release of the dogs to qualified civilian homes, Lackland is still reluctant to place the animals in an environment where they might fall back on their training and bite somebody. "These dogs come with a lot of behavioral baggage," claims Army Colonel Larry Carpenter, director of veterinary services at Lackland. He also points out that medical expenses for geriatric service dogs can run into the thousands of dollars, so any adopter must be financially prepared to meet the animals' special needs. Ronny, for example, has a ruptured ligament in one knee, and already suffers from a progressive lower disk problem that is beginning to impair his mobility.

Lackland officials are currently reviewing a draft of a formal adoption criteria to identify eligible dogs and evaluate potential adopters. Due to be released to the public later this summer, the protocol currently is under circulation among DoD staff for comments and revisions.

There also was the question of how exactly the department disposes of its military dogs after they have died, particularly the remains of Robby, the aging patrol dog whose plight inspired the new adoption law. Remembering how the dogs of World War II were incinerated and thrown in the trash, war dog advocates and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (who sponsored the retirement bill) pelted the department with emails and phone calls asking the military to release Robby's remains so they might be interred with honors. Lackland finally yielded in April, and announced that Robby's ashes would be delivered to Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, in Hartsdale, New York, to coincide with its annual memorial service for war dogs, slated this year for June 24.

The oldest pet cemetery in America, Hartsdale is home to the first war dog monument, designed by Grand Central Station architect Robert Caterson and funded by pennies collected by children all over the country. Its inscription is as succinct today as it was in 1923, when the monument was unveiled: "Dedicated to the memory of the war dog. Built by public contributions by dog lovers, to man's most faithful friend, for the valiant services rendered in the world war." Each summer the American Legion performs a Fallen Soldier Salute in the shadow of the Hartsdale memorial, while throngs of veterans, civilian police dog handlers and well wishers look on.

"The typical cremation includes all biological material with no separation of species," the Air Force said in response to questions about its policy for disposal of canine remains. "The separate cremation of Robby was provided at no cost to the government as a one-time event by [a] contractor." A commander from Lackland will personally deliver the ashes to Hartsdale, but "in civilian attire, to preclude any inferred Air Force representation or expected participation at future events."

For more information about Hartsdale, see www.petcem.com or call 914-949-2583.

UPDATE! UPDATE!

June 24, 2001 HARTSDALE, NEW YORK-- Robby, the aging military dog who's plight sparked national outrage and the passage of a new adoption law for K9 soldiers, was laid to rest with full military honors today at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Established in 1896, the cemetery is home to the first war dog monument, which was unveiled there in 1923, and has since been the centerpiece of an annual memorial service paying homage to the thousands of dogs who have given their lives in times of war.

After much cajoling, the Air Force agreed to deliver Robby's cremated remains to the cemetery in time for this year's memorial service. Major Probst, who commands the Military Working Dog Center at Lackland AFB, brought Robby's remains and participated in the events of the day. Beverly Gainer, who was one of the leaders of the "Save Robby" campaign and who has been rescuing and rehabilitating German Shepherds for many years, was the featured keynote speaker. While the American Legion performed the Fallen Soldier Salute, Robby was interred at the foot of monument.