Rebecca's War Dog of the Week: Making the case for strays on base

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, December 17, 2010 - 11:00 AM Share

By Rebecca Frankel
Best Defense Chief Canine Correspondent

There's some good news on our campaign to life the "don't pet, don't feed" ban -- even if it's not official … yet. Stars and Stripes reports that military bases in Afghanistan are "going to the dogs -- and cats."

It seems, the number of soldiers "smuggling" stray animals into their bases to "adopt and spoil" is on the rise. According to S&S reporter, Jon Rabinoff, despite strict regulations against adopting pets or "mascots" one could "pick any U.S. military base in Afghanistan and find yourself a heartwarming pet story worthy of an 'Animal Planet' feature."

These dogs and kittens who have been smuggled in by soldiers and given names such as Bacon, Butterscotch, and Momma -- all are cared for and coddled by the soldiers around them, including having dog/cat houses and dining on eggs, tuna, and chocolate milk. (The six-picture gallery is definitely worth viewing.)

One soldier told S&S: ""I can honestly speak for everybody else -- it definitely boosts our morale and gives us another bit of responsibility. It keeps our energy positive, playing with them and spending time with them." But Best Defense readers know that calling these strays "pets" or "mascots" is a misrepresentation of the invaluable contribution the offer. Not only are these stray dogs helping to protect and sustain soldiers on base, but they're going out on foot patrol -- a dangerous job for a mere "pet." Two of the dogs, Thumper and George, who rolled with troops at a combat outpost in the Arghandab district were killed after accidentally setting off an IED.

But the official military lines and rules still stand -- no indigenous pets allowed on base -- but it looks like even the higher ups are starting to consider the weight of the benefits against protocol -- letting this rule bend out of sight entirely.

Lt. Col. Matthew Reid told S&S, "he has a lot more important things to worry about in the life-and-death world of a war zone than who might be sneaking a puppy or kitten into their bunk at night. ‘I really haven't given it too much thought, to be honest,' adding that he was aware of cats employed on some bases to address rodent concerns. "My focus is usually elsewhere…'"

BOB STRONG/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:REBECCA'S WAR DOG OF THE WEEK, AFGHANISTAN, MILITARY

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WALKING WOUNDED

8:01 PM ET

December 17, 2010

knowing when to trigger an IED

The value to troops of companion dogs is supported by the highest level of Army neuro-psychiatry. I hope that support is part of the pre-deployment PTSD prevention and treatment briefings these days.

Is it? Or are God's four-footed emissaries working without admin top-cover?

The unspoken assumption in the combat vignette imbedded in Rebecca's wonderful story was that companion dogs setting off a mine was a benefit to our troops. May it be so, mournfully, RIP.

But I wonder. I'd like to hear from some ground pounders on the pro's and cons of our Joe's bringing scratch-trained K-9's on patrol. A dog that exposes a position or runs ahead while the silly-string is being brought up might be more liability than help. Common sense must prevail, mostly.

I'm still waiting patiently to hear stories about Afghan troops and families working with dogs. Maybe tiny afghan posts with dogs would stress less, use less hash and gat?

BOLANDJD

2:11 PM ET

December 18, 2010

I think the benefits of

I think the benefits of having the stray dogs and cats around are undeniable. The bad points are much less well defined by these articles. It sounds nice that the dogs go on patrol with the troops and even set off IEDs to spare humans, but does running around with dogs inhibit the COIN effort? Most Muslim's believe that dogs are unclean, and I would think that a close association with dogs is bad IO. I suppose that attitude varies from locality to locality, but I hope unit leaders are sensative to it at least. At the same time, a loosening of GO#1 is probably in order. It'd be better for the command to officially recognize that pets have a real, if non-tangible, benefit to the troops' mental and physical readiness. It'd be better for the troops' safety, health, and welfare if their pets were registered and vaccinated by the Vet Corps. It'd be better for everyone to maintain good order and discilpine and avoid "don't bark, don't smell."

FIRST TO GO LAST TO KNOW

8:31 AM ET

December 19, 2010

Cats are awesome back at the FOB

When I was at Kandahar in '05, we had two cats, Mitsy and Molley, who had been given their shots, and had small notches taken out of their ears to mark them as trusties. Everyone knew who they were ... they would hang out in our pimped out smoke pit and kill anything smaller than them that crawled. Part of ripping out and continuity was telling the new group how to take care of them and which was which.

Now I am at Herat, and they shoot every dog and cat that comes around on sight. Oh, and we're overrun with mice. Idiots. Just another way to make this place and everyone here less human.

GOLD STAR FATHER

2:06 PM ET

December 20, 2010

Edgerton

The 6 photo gallery referred to by Tom shows troops at "FOB Edgerton". Daughter #3 Eleven Bravo BF, coincidently operating out of Edgerton was quizzed by me regarding said critters. His response sans colorful language and translated from the Alabamian basically told me that it is "the French Canadiens" who are cat-crazy. The big lugs...

COURTNEYME109

7:10 PM ET

December 20, 2010

"We Also Serve"

Way back in the Battle of Britain days, legend has it as Luftflottes formed up over France for their daily sortee, RAF’s radar stations had no idea exactly where they were headed.Channel ports? Kent? Plotting interceptions were impossible – Luftwaffe had never swung this way before!

Wild wack reportage began to filter in about all the cats (and some dogs) going bleeding batty in Conventry.

RAF deduced Jerry was plotting to hit Royal Navy’s ammo magazines at Coventry – interceptions were gambled on and it was Luftwaffe that received a nasty surprise

1943 saw the commission of medals for cats and dogs with the inscription “We Also Serve” for Great Britain

http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/animal-bravery-awards/pdsa-dickin-medal/