[Author’s Note: In what has become a tradition here at the dogs of beer, I hand today’s post over to my editor Gryphon so that he can give a nod to all the service dogs who have served in our Armed Forces.]

Hi all! Memorial Day is a day dedicated to honor our troops, both two legged and four, who have fallen in the service of our country. Sadly, I can not write a post about my breed mates that are no longer with us as it makes me too sad to think that they will never again enjoy scraps from the table, a lazy afternoon on the couch or a relaxing game of fetch. But I honor their sacrifice and hope they are all enjoying playing with each other on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Bless you all.

Instead I want to talk about two dogs and their amazing stories.

First, I just found out that back in 2011, my breed-mate “Cara” and her friend U.S. Military Handler Mike Forshthe set the world record for the highest dog/man parachute deployment. How high were they when they jumped? 30,100 feet! I have to take Ed’s word that it’s very high, as the only distance I’ve ever jumped is from the bed or couch to the floor. The altitude was so high that both Cara and Mike had to were special oxygen masks during it. Way to go Cara!!

The second dog I’d like to honor is my breed-mate Layka, who in October of 2012 became the first military working dog honored by the 341st Training Squadron for her heroic actions while assigned to a U.S. Special Forces unit in Afghanistan. The 341st Training Squadron are the people responsible for training military dogs, so they know a thing or two about how well a dogh as performed in the service of his/her country. Here’s her story from Air Force News.

Layka had been dispatched to clear a building of explosives and help look for enemy combatants after a brief fire fight. During her search, the dog was ambushed by one of the assailants. Layka received multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen and a limb, which later had to be amputated. Severely wounded, she attacked and subdued the assailant, protecting the lives of her handler and other coalition team members behind her. Once the area was secured, Layka’s handler and a physician’s assistant began treating the injured canine. Layka was then flown to a theater hospital for the first of several surgeries, eventually losing her right front leg. She arrived in San Antonio in early July for rehabilitation at the Daniel Holland Military Working Dog Hospital.

Congradulations Layka! Enjoy your well deserved retirement!

Finally, Ed found this picture of the internet which I think is way cool! My breed-mates are decked out in some pretty impressive sci-fi type equipment. Check it out!

Man, if I had that type of equipment I’d never lose my tug toy again!

Well, that’s it for me this year. I’d like to thank Ed for once again giving me the opportunity to recognize all the great things my breed-mates (and yes, even those prancy German Shepherds…JK, love you guys!) in the service of our country. Blessings to all of them, and especially on this Memorial Day to those who did not return….

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