A vast majority of Capitol Hill briefings are pretty boring.
The people who show up for them either have to be there or accidentally wandered into the room and got stuck.
That’s why it was such a rare event Wednesday, to see an emotional, packed hearing room in Cannon Office Building.
And all were there to celebrate one thing…
…Warrior Dogs.
These dogs show up to the briefing impeccably dressed:
They have medals and service patches signifying valiant service in war zones.
"Heroes don't wear capes. They wear dog tags."
And stand at attention, like any good soldier.
The U.S. military has credited dogs like these with saving countless lives on the battlefield.
Now, there is a huge push to reunite these dogs with their former military handlers so they can retire in peace.
War hero Thor takes a nap. He is with his Marine. They were together in Afghanistan. Now, together in retirement.
In the briefing, veterans spoke, sometimes through tears, about their harrowing experiences in battle with their dogs...
...and the deep debts that they owe these animals....
... and the overpowering joy of being reunited with their "partner."
Army Sgt. Jason Bos and his bomb-sniffing dog Cila were reunited this April after more than 100 missions together.
And here are Bos and Cila today:
Bos told BuzzFeed that Cila saved his life a "countless number of times" and protected his unit "every hour of every day."
The affection between the veterans and their veteran dogs is tangible...
"...."
Marine Corps Sgt. Deano Miller and his Warrior Dog, Thor.
Miller told BuzzFeed, "We both have PTSD. We both have trouble sleeping. We are like a support group for each other."
Kathleen Habig's Warrior Dog, Bagio, died a few months ago.
"I was depressed and could not sleep. My PTSD was so bad," Habig said, "Once Bagio returned, he saved me. He saved my life."
Habig is currently trying to get a bill sponsored that would allow Warrior Dogs to be buried in National Cemeteries.
Carlos worked as an explosives detection dog in Afghanistan. This is his adoption photo after five years of war zone service. And here is Carlos, decorated today.
And because of his loving owners, Carlos chills out with on a giant pizza pillow and gets rub downs from Betty White.
And lives life with the honor that all veterans deserve.
