Pets in the Military

About 2,700 dogs serve in the armed forces. In Iraq and Afghanistan, 29 dogs have been reported killed in action. Thanks to the efforts of paramedic Staff Sargeant Mark Joseloff of the Air National Guard, at least one dog was saved. Caring for a military dog that collapsed in 110 degree heat, Joseloff relied on […]

Military working dogs serve and protect U.S. armed forces all over the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. The ASPCA informs us that currently these heroic, loyal dogs are considered “equipment” by the U.S. Department of Defense. This classification not only belittles their lifesaving contributions to our services, but also makes it very difficult to bring […]

Dogs have been used in the military since ancient times. Their heightened senses of smell, hearing and sight and their agility have played key roles in aiding armies against their enemies. It hasn’t been defined exactly what role the Navy Seals dog played in the operation. But it was reported that the dog was critical […]

Horses have been used in warfare since ancient times. There is archaeological evidence of horses being used for this purpose as far back as 4000 or 3000 B.C. in Eurasia. A famous mural from 2500 B.C., the “war panel” of the Standard of Ur, in Sumer, shows horses pulling a wagon. The ancient Assyrians had […]

Dogs have been used in warfare since ancient times. In 628 BC, the Lydians deployed a battalion of fighting dogs and in 525 BC Cambyses II used huge fighting dogs against Egyptian spearmen and archers. The Romans trained dogs specifically for battle and equipped them with armor. During the Medieval period, royalty gave each other […]

In 2011, Steven Spielberg directed a film called War Horse, starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson and David Thewlis. The film is based on a novel by the same name, written by British author Michael Morpurgo. The movie follows the fortunes of a horse named Joey and his special relationship with a boy named Albert, who […]

SPCA International has informed us that “Idle”, a hero of the Iraq war, arrived home to the USA. Idle, along with another hero dog, Nugget, were welcomed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Working tirelessly, the SPCA International along with many of you who signed their petition and made donations to help bring these dogs […]

Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years. But more than that, they have served and protected us loyally under any and all circumstances. In appreciation, memorials have been built to their devotion and heroism. Here are some of their stories. Sculptor Doug Roper was commissioned to create a War Dog Memorial in Long […]

Pets for Patriots blogger, Beth Zimmerman, explains what to do with the family pet when a service person receives PCS order (Permanent Change of Station). Married service persons’ families are included in the order. The family must notify the proper military offices about pets and make any necessary travel arrangements. If the service member’s family […]

Studies have proven time and again how pet ownership brings joy and good health to us. As pet lovers, we all feel that our pets are family members, deserving of a loving home. Pets For Patriots is an organization whose mission is to offer adult pets for adoption to members of the U.S. military. Pets […]