Bomb Sniffing GSD gets retirement early - Page 1

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22226183/

I read that yesterday, pretty cool story.

pretty cool??? I feel sorry for the family's loss, but comeon. That dog could be saving lives of other soldiers for TWO more years. Think of the families that won't have to suffer the pain they have because of that dog, if it stayed working. Sorry, but I see this as selfish. The family didn't know the dog, they didn't raise, train, or keep the dog in anyway. I have sympathy for them, but this is the WRONG decision. Figures when politics and media get involved the right thing can't happen. The right thing would be for them to honor their son, and apply for adoption when the dog is retired.

I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that "pretty cool". I think I had just read something on the dog in the Will Smith movie and was relating to that. I agree with you zdog, they should have taken the dog after he retired. I do feel bad for the family though.

I don't think we would all agree on this subject. I for one think giving the family a dog which will undoubtedly suffer an early retirement anyway due to his back injuries he had sustained even if simply from arthritise is the least we can do to pay them back for giving us their son. I have yet to read that this dog was doing anyhting other than working as a Bomb Dog in Georgia on a Base so he is not overseas just working State Side. Also he's 8, I would not want my son going over seas with a dog who has a prior injury, 8 years old, that lived through a "hit" instead of a fresh dog that has been through proper training and is healthy. What if that dog went back on freaked during another "hit" and a handler died because of that? I think the dog is better off here and if just being used on a Base can just as easily be retired to the boys family. The Military tend to use the dogs longer than a PD anyway b ut that is because they generally go into semi retirement and hang out until they either die in a kennel or they are in an elderly state that they allow the handler to adopt them for their last 6 months to 18 months of life. This dog has a responsible working dog family willing to provide him a respectful retirement. Sorry if you don't agree................

Very well said K-9 mom, that dog deserves to retire and the parents deserve whatever softens the blow do to their sons death. Too bad we can't offer more for the families who lose a child.

He's 8 and has at least 2 years left. What about the docks in New York city, or the airports checking passengers or baggage. There are a thousand uses for his training. I feel as bad as you do for the family, but its part of the job, its a risk you take. Most families get a flag and letter, why should this family be different? I've had friends not even get their personal belongings get sent back to their parent's. BUt this family gets a highly trained dog that could still save soldiers in the war, or people stateside. I don't agree with you at all, I see selfishness.

Zdog, if they were using him at the docks in NYC or the Airport I could see part of your point but they are not. He is working from the base and I have yet to see where anyone suggests he would be sent back to Iraq regardless. Sorry

If he was really that badly injured or can't do the work any longer, I have no issue with it. I would hope all of those dogs get a nice retirement home. I didn't read the link posted in this thread, I read one a day or two ago from a different source, and it said Lex was back working with another soldier, so I assumed he was fine. It did not say where he was working tough.

Zdog I agree with you 100%. I also think it stinks this dog is being ripped away from yet another handler who he has been with for over 8 months and is probably bonded with just for a nice bit of PR. Not fair to the dog or to those who could benefit from his work.