War Dog Research Paper

40 years. In the US, dogs are utilized in a lot of different sections of the government. Dogs are used to “sniff” out drugs, bombs, scents from missing people, etc. War dogs are used as: patrol dogs, messenger dogs, mine dogs, casualty dogs, tunnel dogs and, sentry dogs, and more. Dogs are even used as morale boosters in military hospitals. Dogs are put in a dangerous line of work to help the military but is it humane? While these dogs do receive “top veterinary care”, they are forced to work more than a dog should be working. “CIA K-9 Unit dogs work 60 hours a week, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” (Types of War Dogs.) There is no doubt that dogs, as well as other animals, are pretty resourceful. Since the late 1950’s, the United States Navy has been studying marine …show more content…
For the most part, animals do their job in the military for most of their lives without getting injured but many animals do die from being used as weapons in war. Even if the animals don't die in the “line of action” their death is still caused by them being used by military organizations. For example, in recent years more animals were bred than needed in the UK which resulted in many deaths of animals that were never even utilized by the military. (Animal Tests in Military Defence) Another side to using animals in the military that most people don't think about is the physiological damage being done to dogs by putting them in these war zones and dangerous situations. As spoken about in a book, Animals and War, written by Ryan Hediger, Ph.D. (2005), University of Oregon, “Although animals are often forced to participate in human wars, their presence also signals human vulnerability and dependence.” While soldiers of most nations agree and sign up for the military, animals don't receive that option, they are forced to dedicate their lives to military plans they know nothing about. When soldiers come back from war a lot of the time they