I believe that the most common working dogs that everyone sees in life are police dogs, followed by guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, etc. However, do you know something about military dogs? Like most working dogs, military dogs are also dogs trained to serve humans! The scope of activities of military dogs is generally only in the military camp. They go out of the military camp for missions. It is really rare for ordinary people to see military dogs in their daily lives! Like soldiers, military dogs need to master multiple skills, such as parachuting, demining, reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, etc. They are fighting bloody battles on the front line all the time for the safety of people's lives! They have dedicated half their lives to the army and the people! It makes people feel awe-inspiring! However, it is regrettable that most military dogs cannot be properly arranged after they retire. In various countries around the world, many military dogs live a very miserable life after retirement. However, our country has done very well in this regard and has been praised by various countries. What exactly is this? Let’s find out together!
Military dogs are a special type of military. They have been widely used on the battlefield as early as World War I. How many steel fortresses have been destroyed by surprise attacks by military dogs, and how many crises have been discovered in advance because of the keen sense of smell of military dogs! It can be said to be an indispensable force in the modern army! Nowadays, as military technology becomes more and more advanced, military dogs can do more things, such as mine clearance, reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, fixed-point placement of explosives, etc.! You can even parachute from the air and carry out various operations behind enemy lines anytime and anywhere! It makes the enemy sleep uneasy and eat poorly. The military value brought by a military dog is no less than that of a well-trained soldier. Therefore, more and more countries have begun to pay attention to the special military type of military dogs. A large number of dogs have been trained as military dogs, fighting bloody battles on the front line for the people and the country day and night. It is really admirable!
However, it is regrettable that the life span of these lovely military dogs is generally more than ten years old. Their optimal service age is 3-6 years old. Basically, their old age is when they are 8 years old. As military dogs enter old age, their hearing, smell recognition, and mobility are all in urgent need of decline. They can no longer meet the needs of combat, and they must retire at this time. However, many of these retired military dogs have not been properly placed! Most of the countries in the world will place retired military dogs in military camps, usually cared for by one to several people, and kept in cages every day. No one will accompany them or care for them. These retired old military dogs can only slowly wait for death! It’s really bleak!
Some countries even choose to euthanize retired military dogs, especially in the United Kingdom. According to the British "Daily Mail" report, from 2013 to 2016, the British Ministry of Defense euthanized a total of 231 military dogs, some of which were even less than 8 years old. Military dogs have dedicated half their lives to the army and the people, but in the end they ended up like this. It is really chilling! In contrast, our country has done very well in this regard! It has also been praised by all countries! Our country generally has three placement methods for retired military dogs:
1. Stay in the original army and continue to be cared for by comrades.
For those dogs that have served in combat, they can still stay in the army after retirement, and the soldiers will take care of their lives!
2. Go to a military dog sanatorium to spend their old age.
This is also the most common placement method. Most military dogs will be sent to a military dog sanatorium to spend their old age after retirement. Not only will there be specialized personnel to take care of them there, but there will also be specialists who interact with the military dogs every day and provide them with psychological treatment, because most military dogs will have psychological sequelae after retirement!
3. Civilian adoption
It is very difficult for civilians to adopt military dogs. Not just anyone can adopt them. They need to go through various strict procedures, pass political review, sign a contract, and report all the conditions of the military dogs to the army at any time. Once any unqualified areas are found, the military dogs will be taken back immediately and relevant penalties will be imposed. It can be said to be quite strict!
After reading the above, are all readers unable to help but applaud our country’s method of placing retired military dogs? Military dogs are willing to dedicate their short lives to the country and the people. They are equal to soldiers and deserve our respect, commemoration and praise! This also includes those working dogs that serve for the safety of people’s lives. If one day you meet a working dog at work, please do not disturb it and let it finish its day’s work quietly. If necessary, you can smile at it. This is the greatest respect for them!