The Purrfect Nanny & Purrfect Pet Health Blog

MILITARY WORKING DOGS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

By ABC-7 Reporter Daniel Marin

EL PASO, Texas - Living near Fort Bliss, El Pasoans have seen the happy celebrations when soldiers come home from war. But what about our heroes with four legs?

Take Benny, for instance. Benny looks like any other German shepherd, but he’s not. He’s a retired Air Force veteran.

Benny’s owner Debbie Kandoll says a lot of people don’t know retired military dogs can be yours, adopted just like any other pound puppy.

“It’s a well-kept secret,” said Kandoll. “My other German shepherds were magnificent, but there’s just a difference you can’t quantify in words.”

These dogs have seen a lot; most spending time overseas with soldiers either sniffing for drugs or car bombs.

In the past, when a dog reached a certain age they were simply euthanized. But now, they’re given what are called ‘adoption suitability tests.’

“It’s to test their level of aggression and whether they’d fit in well in civilian life,” said Kandoll.

The dogs that pass the test, like Benny, are then put up for adoption.

Kandoll says she knows Benny would give whatever he could for her, and that’s why she’s doing whatever she can to help other dogs just like him. She runs a website that walks people through the process of adopting these ‘hero’ dogs.

“I’m Benny’s 13th partner but he calls me ‘lucky number 13,’” laughed Kandoll. “he’ll be with me until he goes to the rainbow bridge.”

To adopt a military working dog, visit the links below:

Lackland Air Force Base Dog Adoptions

Http://www.lackland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080317-045.pdf

Debbie Kandoll’s Military Working Dog Adoptions

http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/

Three male dogs, a Rotweiler, a Labrador and a Chihuahua, are chatting on a corner,  when a very good looking female Poodle comes sashaying down the street.  The 3 males dogs immediately start arguing about who is going to ask her out.  She overhears the argument and comes over and asks “Why should I go out with any of you, you don’t seem very interesting!  I’ll tell you what, the first one of you that can use the words liver and cheese in an interesting sentence, I will agree to go on a date with.”

The Rotweiler immediately speaks up and says: “I hate liver and cheese.” The Poodle just yawns and says, “How boring, just like I knew you would be.” 

The Labrador speaks up and says “How about this sentence, I love liver and cheese!”  The Poodle says “That’s even worse than the Rotweilers poor attempt!”

The Poodle starts to turn away when the Chihuahua speaks up and says “What about me, don’t you want to hear my sentence?”  The Poodle says “Okay, let me hear it.”  So the Chihuahua turns her around, takes her paw and starts leading her away.  He turns his head and says, over his shoulder, “Liver alone boys, cheese mine!”

The splendor of summer is right around the bend.  We are approaching the season when children, freed from studies, populate the neighborhood, friends and families hold cook-outs, and we find ourselves preoccupied with the health our pet’s coats.

There’s a reason for our annual fixation.  Dogs usually begin to lose their winter coats in early spring, when it is gradually replaced by a shorter, lighter coat suited to the summer months.  The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed.  For example, the pet parents of German Shepherds will groan about the amount of shedding all year long, while those of us with poodles rarely have to get out the broom or vacuum, even with the arrival of summer.

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My friend from Germany e-mailed me some sad news today. One of her puppies was involved in a car accident with his new owner and died. Luckily at least all people involved did not get hurt. When I take my dogs with me in the car I always buckle them in the backseat of my sports car or I have them in the crate in the back of our SUV. Please make sure your pets are as save as any possible while driving. There is a wonderful crate available I would highly recommend while traveling. Or go and buy a seat harness. Please never let your dog ride on the back of your pick up truck. While people probably think it’s cool - it’s awfully irresponsible. Not only can the dog get severely hurt when involved in an accident, the dog might also be catapulted off your pick up truck and might endanger the life of other drivers on the road. Please put safety first!

The new must see dog movie has just hit the movie theaters. After Marley and me, the second Dog movie this year - wow! My daughter and I are going to see that one, I just can not resist and she loves dogs as much as I do. The story line is about two siblings ending up in a foster home with a strict “no dogs” policy. They have to find a home for their beloved dog and soon stumble across an abandoned hotel. The perfect place to transform in a hotel not only for their dogs but also for all stays on the street. Read more at the official website “Hotel For Dogs”.
Let us know if you are going or how much you liked it!

Children, dogs and books! Sounds like a dream come true!

The Cobb County Central Library at 266 Roswell Road in Marietta, GA, will be host to a local chapter of READing Paws this year. Every Tuesday at 3:30 READing Paws dogs will be available to help children enhance their reading skills. The mission of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.®) is to enhance children’s love of reading through the use of therapy animals and thus lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning and a higher quality life. This is such an innovative and thoughtful way to help children overcome reading obstacles and encourage more reading. Dogs don’t care if you stumble on words, if you need help or read slowly. Children are able work through problems and overcome insecurity. They leave with a sense of accomplishment that inspires confidence. If you are interested or know someone who would be please call the Marietta library at (770) 528-2320 to find out more and register!

Everyone who knows me knows that I never mind sharing great experiences and products with all my clients and friends. We all need to watch our money and where it goes – therefore I will always only recommend quality products for reasonable pricing. Please also keep in mind that buying a quality product, either quality feed or toys, or equipment always pays off in the end.
Today I decided to share an open secret with you about dog equipment. The reason I was on the lookout for a new leather leash for my sweet Dalmatian was that she bit her great leather leash in pieces. How could I forget to take the leash off when I put her in the back of the car for a very short ride? I don’t know what I was thinking but when I arrived it was to late – the leash was not usable any longer. Read the rest of this entry »

My family and I live in Dacula in a subdivision called Apalachee Farms. It seems that almost every neighbor is a happy dog owner. Some of our neighbors don’t have a traditional fence but an invisible fence which caused me trouble lately. It started when I walked my dogs up the street on the sidewalk when all of a sudden a cute Boston Terrier came out of nowhere running barking and growling towards my dogs. I was sure the dog would come out of the yard and it took all my strength to hold both of my dogs back who felt suddenly attacked and wanted to defend themselves. A few weeks later I walked my dogs again and apparently a new dog, a Shih Tzu moved in two homes further up the road. The same thing happened. I was happily walking my dogs and all of a sudden the little dog came running towards us and he can be considered very lucky that I held on to my dogs so well. Last not least walking in the other direction we always have to walk by a home with two beautiful Weimeraner. Those dogs always go crazy, even we never walk on their side of the street. I’m always scared they would break out and hurt my dogs. Well, to make matters worse, my daughter walked one of our dogs the other day and when she went by at the Boston Terriers home that one really broke out and attacked my dog on the street. I guess my large dog made a point and growled and air snapped at him and he went back into his yard. When our daughter told us what happened we went up to the home and wanted to talk to the owner to let her know that her dog got out. Nobody was home! I never felt comfortable with invisible fence but after that incident I’m really scared walking my dogs in the neighborhood….

Here’s the Answer in Black and White
Reprinted from May/June 1992 issues of Reminisce Magazine