Uncle Sam wants your dog!

[valerie]

Wanted: Dogs to Fight War on Terror





(SAN ANTONIO) -- During World War One, Uncle Sam wanted you. During the

War on Terror, Uncle Sam wants your dog.



In an unprecedented move, the Department of Defense Military Working

Dog Training Center today asked Americans to donate their dogs to

become front line soldiers in the fight against terrorism and drug

trafficking.



Nancy Ori of the center, which is located at Lackland Air Force Base in

San Antonio, says the Pentagon would like to have a preponderance of

pooches for the program.



"Considering the environment that the world is in, with terrorism, our

demand for explosive detection dogs will continue to grow," she said.



The center trains drug and explosive detection dogs for U.S. military

bases worldwide, as well as for the Transportation Security Agency to

put to work in airports.



So how do you know if your pet has the right stuff to take a bite out

of Osama?



"If it has a good drive to hunt for its toy or for its ball, then we'll

see if that's something that can be used in training," Ori said.



Stewart Hilliard, Chief of Evaluations for the school, said Uncle Sam

especially wants Labradors, Pointers, and Retrievers.



"Through programs like this, the general public can make important

contributions to our nation's homeland defense," Hilliard said.



Ori said while larger dogs are generally preferred, there is a place

for smaller breeds like Beagles and Jack Russell Terriers in the

nation's war effort.



"The Navy uses the smaller breed dogs like Beagles to perform detection

services in cramped quarters, like on ships."



She said this is the first time ever that the military has put out a

general 'recruiting call' for canine soldiers.



"Its difficult to find that type of dog with a high drive, and meet all

the medical requirements."



To qualify, dogs have to complete a pre screening test as well as a

complete medical evaluation. Dogs that pass those two requirements will

be kept at the center for ten days, to see if they can be one of the

few and the proud. If not, the military will return them to their

owners.



Ori said the Pentagon would prefer patriotic Americans donate their

dogs, but there is a budget to buy certain dogs from their owners for

use in the program



NOTE: To volunteer your dog for the program, call 210-671-3125 or

1-800-531-1066. Dogs from across the nation are invited, but the owners

will have to bring them to Lackland Air Force Base for the screening.



--------------------

[koan]

I suppose this isn't as funny as it seems to me.

Now we'll have to keep track of the innocent dogs blown to smithereens as well. Start a dogbodycount.com site. They should start their search in the shelters I suppose? At least then they could save some doggy lives at the same time.

[minks]

they can have my dog if they come and get him, he will snap anyone to attention the little fire cracker that he is tee hee hee

[valerie]

Koan, getting the dogs from shelters would seem to make a lot of sense

and I wonder why they didn't start there!!



I could never send my girl off. Thank goodness she's too old (and

physically challenged) to serve.



I saw newsreel footage of this done during WWII and I still wonder how

people could send their dogs off.



The ones in shelters are often there because they are "problem" dogs,

probably meaning "high drive" and would do good at jobs like these,

bomb sniffing or whatever.