On this Memorial Day Weekend 2024, the Military Working Dog Team Support Association is grateful to all U.S. military working dog handlers and K9s, past and present, who work tirelessly to protect our troops and our freedom. These teams often serve in front of the front lines, checking for hidden dangers such as improvised explosive […] The post Memorial Day 2024 appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Recently, an email appeared in MWDTSA’s inbox entitled, “This Sailor and His Dog Save Lives.” It turned out to be an article by longtime MWDTSA donor Duke Cannon about a care package recipient! With Duke Cannon’s permission, we are reprinting the full interview below. We are grateful for their unwavering support of MWDTSA’s mission to […] The post This sailor and his dog save lives appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Military working dog handlers will tell you their greatest K9 first aid priority is to prevent dog heatstroke. On this first day of summer, MWDTSA is honored to share the following safety information from Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, reprinted with permission of the author. by Kristen Browning-Blas Never leave a […] The post Prevent dog heatstroke appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Will Chesney, an “ordinary” high school student living in a Southeast Texas trailer park, had a big dream—to become a Navy SEAL. In a gripping autobiography, No Ordinary Dog, he chronicles his journey from enlistment through SEAL training and multiple deployments. Along the way, Chesney became a dog handler, with MWD Cairo as his four-legged […] The post Retired Navy Seal Will Chesney honors MWD Cairo and candidly discusses PTSD appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
My heart dropped when I received word recently that Homer Finley had died. As the last surviving member of the 1st Marine War Dog Platoon, he was a living link to the earliest days of our nation’s military working dog program. At the time he served, he was part of an experimental, unproven initiative. “Many […] The post Remembering WWII Marine handler Homer Finley appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
RMWD Aura N679 was one of us—a MWDTSA volunteer. She and her humans represented MWDTSA at educational events, a movie premiere, and more. So, her death on February 7, 2020, touched us all. Below are two tributes: the first by her mom Jesca Daniels and the second by Kayla Miller of Negative Image Photography, LLC. […] The post Two tributes to RMWD Aura N679 appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Pictured here: MWDTSA is humbled to provide a wreath to honor the memory of Bob Throneburg. Handlers and MWDs from the 802nd SFS K9 Section—along with Ken Neal, Security Forces Museum Foundation—installed the wreath at Nemo’s Memorial on Friday, February 7, 2020, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. (Photo credit: TSgt Joseph Williams, NCOIC, […] The post Remembering Vietnam War Hero Bob Throneburg appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
The Petco Foundation is investing $5,000 in MWDTSA’s care package program! This grant will help purchase supplies that can be hard to find in a combat environment. We send items such as thermometers, paw protection, grooming products, and collapsible water bowls to enhance safety and comfort for our four-legged troops. Many of the teams we […] The post Petco Foundation awards $5,000 grant to MWDTSA appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Looking for a military-related lesson plan to spice up social studies? MWDTSA volunteer Wendy Sotos is studying to become a Certified Humane Education Specialist. As part of her coursework, she has developed a lesson plan about military working dogs for 3rd and 4th graders. It’s free, and any interested teacher or home-school parent can download […] The post Military working dog lesson plan for 3rd and 4th graders appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA
Photo: Active duty and Vietnam veteran dog handlers stand before the Georgia State Capital in 2007, a few weeks after Dixie Whitman and Ken Besecker founded MWDTSA. That day, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed MWDTSA’s request proclaiming March 22, 2007 as Military Dog Handler Day in Georgia. ********************************* Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc. […] The post Ken Besecker and Dixie Whitman share MWDTSA’s history appeared first on MWDTSA.| MWDTSA