Land Mine Dogs in Afghanistan - Photos - Page 1

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/afghanistan.landmine.dogs/index.html


Most dogs are GSDs, bred specially by the people using them. Interesting photos of the dogs training to sniff out mines......

Great thread Hodie. I enjoyed the pictures. No margine for error in that line of work. Amazing that the average working life of the dogs is so long.  Now these are what I consider working dogs!

Hi 4Pack,

Yes it is amazing, but I am not so certain I believe the 8 years working life. I think they mean that when the dog is not blown to bits it may live and work 8 years, but I suspect there is a high mortality. None the less, the dog can probably smell the chemicals much more accurately than any other device we now possess, and they are much cheaper (sad to say). The saddest thing is that most victims of land mines all over the world are, in fact, children. There is a pact to agree not to deploy such weapons, but the US refuses to sign it. This issue was, of course, dear to Princess Diana's heart and she did a lot to bring the issue to light. With her death, it faded back into obscurity.

Hodie,

what you said above is correct and it is a sad stand of the U.S

I have friend that is deployed there with an IED dog, its tough going and they only deploy for 6 months because of the harsh conditions they train at the proving gronds in Yuma before they go Afghanistan is a very scary place!

 Lief,

I will think positive thoughts for your friend who is deployed. It is a terrible position to be in and I hope he/she will return safely home.

I think all the dogs deployed in Iraq and Afganistan are very special dogs. They save and unknown number of lives every day, not to mention the companionship to their  handlers as well as many other service personel.I only hope that  they will fare better then their vietnam counterparts did.I think that the plight of those poor dogs was a disgrace.

Could not agree more Michael49 with what happened to the dogs used by the American military in Vietnam. Hopefully it will never happen again.

You hate bush, then you hate obama. I hope you like the next one. Damn man, he's your bloody president. I can see pointing out in arguments that he is doing the wrong thing, but having a banner like that displlayed against all your messages is pretty messed up.

Nitro, 

You are correct, but people like him cannot show any respect if they aren't getting their way. At least he is not posting calls to violence, although I am sure he would be happy to see that as well. Obama was duly elected. I noted today that the stock market closed at its highest level since October 08. The economy where I live is improving, albeit slowly. He has taken the bankers to task. He has shown compassion and that he intends for the White House to be the house of all the people. He invited a father and mother of a dead soldier to come to meet him at the White House. When they said they were on their way to a military base to honor their dead son, and Obama just happened to be going there to speak, he took them with him on Air Force One. He is neither the savior nor the devil when it comes to saving this country. It takes ALL of us working and doing something positive to make things better, be it giving  toys to the poor children, coats for the homeless, or fixing someone's car for a fair price rather than gouging them. It takes doctors and dentists giving of their skills to those who are less fortunate. But some here including the poster above you, don't want to do anything but sit on their ass and complain. In my area, one cannot even take food, drinks or snacks into a movie theatre. So? It has nothing to do with Obama or health care reform that WILL happen, finally.