Former service dog honoured

Austin Maclin’s German shepherd, Sam, awarded 40 years after service in Vietnam

Throughout the many wars in history, troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe and make their jobs easier.

Today, military service dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. The United States of America War Dog Association recognizes these valued members of the military and the association has recently presented an award to a Prince Edward Island man for his dog’s work during the Vietnam War. Austin Maclin, who now lives in Darnley, served as a soldier and K9 kennel trainer for the U.S. military. His partner, a German shepherd called Sam, worked with Maclin in Vietnam 3rd SPS (Bien Hoa). Forty years later, Sam is being recognized for serving in the armed forces of the United States with honour, courage and loyalty in a time of conflict. Today, Austin has Myah, another German shepherd in training as a service dog: this time as a PTSD service dog. The service Myah will provide is becoming more common around the world and in P.E.I.

Kendra Mellish, the provincial peer support co-ordinator within the Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program in P.E.I., says there are 10 service dogs attached to Island veterans within her group. She notes there is another Island connection, because many of the service dogs across Canada have been trained in Straford at Duke Ferguson’s Unleashed Potential K9.