A Salute to Military Dogs

Dear Military Dogs,

You hold a special place in both our troop operations and our hearts. This Memorial Day, we want to take time out to thank, remember, and honor you.

Thank you to the dogs that risk their lives to reduce the risk of others. Some may play crucial roles during warfare, while others perform to keep people safe in different ways.

Shout out to the expert bomb sniffers, mine hunters, messengers, or locators of wounded soldiers. Trusting and being loyal to us without bounds makes you man’s best friend. You make the world a better place by acting in important roles only you can fill.

What about the brave ones that accompany people as they jump out of planes and helicopters? You pups seem to do it all! We know strenuous training and preparation must go into these, and we hope you are rewarded with plenty of belly rubs and treats.

They may not classify as military dogs, but these dogs change the world by helping veterans cope with trials of their past and stay by their side as they take on new adventures. Thank you for your recognition and being somehow in tune with human emotions and feelings, knowing when a sweet nudge or lick can really help someone.

Thank you to the retired service animals who were brought out of service and into the loving arms of a family. We are happy you are able to hang up your uniform and have some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Perhaps our deepest respect is for the dogs who it would be impossible to do without. Thank you to the dogs who are not categorized as military working dogs, but count the same in the eyes of military families. This is to those pets who are at home with families during deployments, becoming a companion while another loved one is away. We are grateful to you for being the couch potato when they needed to relax, for getting them out the door to go on a walk, or for being the tug-of-war partner if they needed a distraction.

You are the humblest because you don’t realize the impact you make. We are eternally grateful for you, military dogs.

Happy Memorial Day!

We would love to hear any encounters, memories, or appreciation you have personally had with any of these types of dogs. Please comment below and enjoy time with your beloved pets today!

Marleigh Feigenbaum

Hi! I’m Marleigh. I am a nurse, military spouse and proud human to @fletcher_the_pup. We are lovers of dogs and adventures, especially in combination. Fletcher is a shepherd mix who is a puppy at heart and loves being around others. His big ears only add to his even bigger personality. Fletch is definitely the most photogenic person in the family and we hope our experiences can bring some joy to other peoples lives.