Skip To Content

    An Ode To Military Working Dogs

    Some heroes are four-legged. With Service Dog Appreciation week approaching, we celebrate and remember six incredible dogs of war.

    Military Working Dogs are partners, brothers and best friends to their service members.

    Their dedication and loyalty has saved countless of lives throughout history, selflessly risking their own to protect the lives of their humans.

    Carlos the yellow Labrador was a Contract Working Dog and served a five-year tour in Explosive Detection.

    Throughout his five-year service, Carlos was credited with mission finds that saved countless lives.

    For his courage, he was named 2013 Military Dog Hero by at the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards.

    Now in his retirement, this veteran lives out his days in Colorado with a fellow Military Working Dog, Alik, eating yummy chicken jerky and "inspiring everyone he meets."

    Arco was deployed to United Arab Emirates, Balad and Iraq where he saved countless lives by discovering explosive devices.

    After fighting through so many tours, he lost his last battle to an aggressive cancer. Here is Arco making his final trip into the veterinary office at Tyndall Air Force Base, receiving a well-earned salute from his comrades.

    Via Facebook:Military Working Dogs/tyndall.af.mil / Facebook:Military Working Dogs

    Sergeant Rex served ten years in the Marine Corps, even patrolling the triangle of death in Baghdad.

    Sgt. Rex spent his next two deployments with Corporal Megan Leavey.

    Athos is a bomb-sniffing dog that sustained injuries in a rocket attack during his tour in Afghanistan.

    A Military Working Dog's informal duty is being a "therapy and morale dog."

    Lucca is an amputee veteran that lost her leg while protecting her platoon during an explosion in Afghanistan.

    She served six years in the United States Marine Corps, spending two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. During this time, Lucca led "over 400 patrols" all of which resulted in no injuries to her fellow Marines.

    Lucca spent two of her tours alongside her handler, Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham.

    In 2012, Lucca was on patrol in Afghanistan when she located a planted explosive.

    Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham adopted Lucca upon her retirement, now making him Lucca's human.

    In her retirement, Lucca makes frequent rounds to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where she "makes a dramatic impact on the lives of service members."

    She spends her days being spoiled and cared for by Willingham, her positive attitude never faltering.

    It is the handlers' job to help lead these pups into the heart of danger.

    It's the Military Working Dogs' job to help lead them out, and these pups do it with honor.

    If you're interested in adopting a four-legged veteran, the official Military Working Dog adoption site is here.