War Dog handlers continue to support K9s even after leaving the service. The bond with these dogs is something very few people understand—unless you’ve been saved by one.
That support can take many forms: post-retirement health care, monuments, memorials, or helping other K9s. In my case, Combat Assault Dog Duco became part of me, an extension of me on the battlefield. His loss sparked me to create the “In Honor of Duco” Project, supported by Scott’s Wish.
For these brave warriors, there is no “doggy VA” to take care of our US Canine Service Members post-active duty. The health care falls to the handler who might be an active duty service member or retired from the Armed Forces. Some of these war dogs already face medical challenges at retirement due to battlefield injuries or toxic exposure.
This article is Part 5 of a five-part War Dog Series:
- History of the US War Dogs
- War Dogs of World War II
- History of the War Dogs: Cold War
- War Dogs and the Global War on Terror
combat assault dog duco
Duco was a US Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) K9, dual-purpose (explosive detection and apprehension) Dutch Shepherd, that served in support of combat operations from 2012 to 2017. Duco was, in my opinion, the gold standard when it came to war dogs. Social on one side, but an absolute beast on the battlefield, I’m alive today because of Duco’s bravery.
In November 2000, Duco was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of his right rear leg. A diagnosis, right rear leg amputation, and four rounds of chemotherapy cost about $15,000. This gave me seven more grateful months with the very partner who had saved my life. Unfortunately, Duco lost his battle with cancer on 5 July 2001.
The “in honor of duco” Project
After losing Duco, I partnered with an all-volunteer 501C3 nonprofit called Scott‘s Wish and the “In Honor of Duco” Project was founded. Our mission is simple: To never let another SOF K9 handler make a medical decision about their partner based on their finances.
The Duco Project has helped numerous SOF K9s, including SOF K9 Conan from the Al-Baghdadi raid, SOF K9 Layka who lost her front leg in Iraq, and Navy SOF K9 Nico, just to name a few.
We also provided a bronze statue for SOF K9 Layka and have provided K9 body armor to some police departments in need of vesting their K9 partners. It is only by your generous contributions that we can make a difference in the health care these SOF K9s receive.
Spike’s K9 Fund
Spikes K9 Fund was founded by James Hatch, a retired Navy SEAL. As a K9 handler on several deployments, James’ life was regularly spared by the work of K9s — one of the most memorable was Spike. And on James’ final deployment, the night he was critically wounded, a K9 Remco spared James’ life while losing his own.
From that evening on, James oriented his life around the training, care and preservation of working dogs. In addition to working as the founder and president of the fund, he works with local law enforcement to fine-tune their work.
Their mission — Spike’s K9 Fund, with your support, provides custom-fit ballistic vests, protective equipment, medical cost assistance, and access to top-of-the-line training programs. For more info, go to Spike’s K9 Fund
warrior dog foundation
The Warrior Dog Foundation was founded by former US Navy SEAL Mike Ritland. The organization transitions our country’s working K9s from an operational environment into retirement, providing mental and physical rehabilitation, and rehoming options to Military Working Dogs (MWD), Contract Working Dogs (CWD), and Law Enforcement K9s that otherwise would be euthanized.
For more info, go to Warrior Dog Foundation
Chico’s promise – saving 50,000 dogs
Mike Monahan was a Vietnam Veteran who was partnered with a scout dog named Chico. Trained to alert on human scent, explosives, and trip wires, Chico saved Mike’s life and other soldiers’ lives while leading patrols. Sadly, Mike felt like he had abandoned Chico when he left Vietnam without him.
Fifty years later, with the memory of Chico still weighing heavily on his heart, Mike created Chico’s Promise – to honor the legacy of Chico, of course, but also the 4,300+ service dogs who were euthanized or left behind by the end of the Vietnam War.
Chico’s Promise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of honoring the memory of an exceptional military dog named Chico.
Their mission is to support selected no-kill shelters by paying the adoption fees of 50,000 dogs throughout the United States. They will cover fees of up to $250 per dog for individuals or families wanting to adopt a dog. For more information or to donate, go to https://www.chicospromise.org/
military Working Dog teams monument
The development of the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument (MWD) was spearheaded by Mr. John Burnam, a U. S. Army combat infantryman and German Shepherd Scout Dog Handler during the Vietnam War. While his war dog partners died in Vietnam, he wanted to keep their memories alive and mounted a campaign to create the monument.
To provide the foundation for the project, he established the John Burnam Monument Foundation in 2008. With the support of Congressman Walter Jones, R-NC, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 was amended and authorized the Burnam Foundation to design, fund, build, and maintain the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. The Burnam Foundation solicited private and corporate donations and collected more than $2 million for the publicly funded National Monument.
Since the Monument could not be placed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Joint Base San Antonio — Lackland was the most appropriate alternate location. The local command welcomed the National Monument and provided the land needed to build it adjacent to the parade ground.
The monument was constructed and unveiled on October 28, 2013. In 2014, the John Burnam Monument Foundation was deactivated, gifting the structure to Lackland and transferring maintenance of the Monument to the Airman Heritage Foundation.
The monument’s main granite pedestal features the U.S. military’s four prominent working dog breeds since World War II: Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Labrador retriever, and Belgian Malinois.
A nine-foot-tall bronze dog handler represents all U.S. military dog handlers who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terror. Another design feature is the “Not Forgotten Fountain,” a fully functional bronze dog and handler water fountain that epitomizes the bond between dog and handler.
Guardians of the night
Listen to Max Martini read the poem Guardians Of The Night. The author is unknown, but the words have a huge impact, especially for those of us given the privilege to take one of these amazing beasts onto the battlefield and, by their actions, save lives and bring their pack home.
To all the War Dogs who paid the ultimate sacrifice, who were abandoned, or who fought medical battles in retirement—your service will never be forgotten.
With all that these dogs have given for their country, it is our time to give back to them. We are their voice. We are their advocates.
God bless you, your family, our troops, and God bless the United States of America.
