Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Challenges to military working dog management and care in the Kuwait theater of operation.
- Journal:
- Military medicine
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Toffoli, Caroline A & Rolfe, David S
- Affiliation:
- Pfizer Global Research and Development · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In combat zones like Kuwait, military working dogs (MWDs) play a crucial role in keeping troops safe by detecting explosives. However, there are challenges in caring for these dogs because the facilities and standards for their housing and health care are often not as good as what they receive in the United States. The limited number of certified dogs and the need for proper training for their handlers and veterinary staff can affect both the dogs' well-being and their ability to perform their missions. The author, a veterinarian who served in Iraq, discusses these issues and suggests ways to improve the care and readiness of MWDs in such environments. Overall, the focus is on enhancing the health and effectiveness of these important working dogs.
Abstract
In a combat environment, troop safety and installation security are paramount. Documentation of the frequent use of explosive devices by insurgents in Southwest Asia has increased the need for augmentation of defensive capabilities. Military working dogs (MWDs) are trained and certified to perform missions supporting security and detection of explosives. Challenges arise in theater because the number of certified dogs available can be limited and the standards of housing and care that are available in the continental United States are not usually available in a combat theater. Planning, preparation, and training of MWD handlers,animal care specialists, and Veterinary Corps officers will maximize mission performance and MWD health. Some of th echallenges and needs associated with management and care of the MWDs in the Kuwait theater of operation are discussed. Suggested improvements to the current deployment readiness paradigm are offered from the perspective of a staff veterinarian who was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17076454/