Donations help reunite Marine and military working dog
When a military working dog named Bogi suffered a neck injury on duty in Japan, the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois was retired from service. Her former handler, a Marine sergeant in Hawaii, wanted the dog, but neither the U.S. government nor military contractors spend money to send
injured and retired dogs back to the United States.
It’s up to dog lovers and American Humane to fund those happy airport reunions that can be seen all over social media.
The costs of bringing such dogs home is staggering, and the logistics are daunting. The cost is $12,000-$20,000 per dog, and it can go even higher if the dog has injuries, including post traumatic stress, that require extensive veterinary bills.
“So far, American Humane has helped bring back 45 military dogs and reunite them with the people who care for them most in the world — their handlers,” said spokesman Mark Stubis.
Earlier this month, Bogi traveled from Iwakuni, Japan, to Honolulu. In American Humane photos, the retired military working dog can be seen reunited with her former handler, Marine Sgt. Angela Cardone. The lucky dog wears a
Hawaiian lei around her neck, and she walks on a sandy beach with her partner. When the team worked together, their duties included searching packages, cars, rooms, baggage and aircraft for potential threats.
“No matter what, I could always depend on her for anything,” Sgt. Cardone said in an American Humane news release. “She built my confidence as a dog handler and a person. It was as if I looked at her as my daughter.”
American Humane, founded in 1877, is the country’s oldest humane organization, The nonprofit has worked alongside the U.S. Armed Forces for more than a century, said Robin Ganzert, its president and CEO.
American Humane veterinarian Lesa Staubus oversaw the logistics of the journey — including COVID-19 safety measures — and traveled to Hawaii to check on the health of Bogi.
“American Humane is incredibly proud of our work supporting the nation’s veterans, including four-legged military K-9s who play a critical role in keeping their fellow troops safe,” Gazert said. “Every dog that serves alongside our brave men and women in uniform deserves our thanks and a restful retirement.”
Wednesday was National Random Acts of Kindness Day, and another dog-involved nonprofit sent a news release asking that we all reach to help organizations that help animals and people.
The suffering caused by
the pandemic extends beyond deaths and illness. As many as 22,000 nonprofit organizations are projected to fail, according to the Philanthropy.com website.
That information comes from Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a Floridabased nonprofit that has improved the lives of many military veterans in Western Pennsylvania.
“The fact is nonprofits need you, and overall community support, as the pandemic evolves,” according to the news release.
Here are their suggested ways to help:
• Many nonprofits have Amazon Smile programs. Sign up and 5% of your purchases goes to the nonprofit.
• Make small recurring donations if you can.
• Start a fundraiser on social media, or in real life, asking friends and relatives to donate to a cause instead of giving you presents.
• Volunteer if you safely can, doing anything from hugging puppies at a shelter to distributing food to families.
• Short on cash? You can help them raise their profiles by sharing information about them on your own social media and by liking and sharing posts from their social media.
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs raises, trains and donate dogs trained to meet the individual needs of military veterans and first responders who have PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, mobility issues and much more. More than 30 dogs have been placed with veterans in Western Pennsylvania. The $25,000 in training costs is covered by donations.