caring for canines · vietnam vietnam war. experts estimate they and their human handlers saved...

© 2010 Universal Uclick

release dates: November 6-12 45-1 (10)

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

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Saving Lives

Military Working Dogs Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, when we honor those who have served our country in the military. Did you know that dogs work with our troops to help save lives? Military working dogs have become even more important in the fight against terrorism. The Mini Page talked to military dog handlers to find out more about these loyal dogs serving our troops.Dogs of war Military forces have used dogs in wars for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans put collars with razor-sharp spikes on attack dogs and sent them to battle enemy soldiers. In the American Revolutionary War, dogs helped carry supplies for U.S. troops. During World War I, German and French armies used about 50,000 trained dogs as sentries*, scouts, and ammunition and message carriers. Later in the war, the British and Belgians loaned trained dogs to U.S. forces. U.S. troops also used dogs to kill rats in the trenches.*A sentry guards an area and gives warning if there is trouble.

World War II The Germans prepared for war by training about 200,000 war dogs, mostly German shepherds. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army formed the U.S. Army Canine* (K-9) Corps. The unit began with nine dogs trained by a civilian group, Dogs for Defense Inc. *A canine (KAY-nine) is a dog.

By the end of the war, the K-9 Corps had a force of more than 10,000 dogs. Dogs were used as sentries, scouts, messengers, and to find mines and booby traps.

Vietnam About 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War. Experts estimate they and their human handlers saved more than 10,000 lives. Unfortunately, only about 200 of these dogs left Vietnam. Some were left behind with the South Vietnamese army when the U.S. troops went home.

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Military working dog Taran finds a bag of explosives buried in the sand in Iraq. Taran was working with his handler, Staff Sgt. John Mras. The dog found materials for making explosive devices as well as fake passports. Taran is a Belgian Malinois (ma-lun-WAH) and German shepherd mix.

A scout dog leads a patrol in Vietnam.

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Words that remind us of military working dogs are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: BASE, CANINE, DOG, EXPLOSIVES, GERMAN, GUARD, HANDLER, MALINOIS, MILITARY, MISSION, PARTNER, PATROL, PAW, PROTECT, SAVE, SENTRY, SHEPHERD, SNIFF, TROOPS, VETERAN, WAR.

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Y R A T I L I M N O I S S I M G P S E N I N A C Y R T N E S S U A N D M S I O N I L A M V G A A T I O N R E N T R A P E E W V R R F G R E L D N A H T R B A E D O F T C E T O R P E M A K R V V L D S P O O R T R A S V D R E H P E H S W A P A N E S E V I S O L P X E K L N


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ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.On the Web: • www.militaryworkingdogs.com • http://uswardogs.org • http://www4.va.gov/kidsAt the library: • “Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam” by Cynthia Kadohata • “A Soldier’s Best Friend: Scout Dogs and Their Handlers in the Vietnam War” by John C. Burnam


Caring for CaninesProtecting our partners In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a bill setting up a retirement program for military working dogs. Today, when a military dog is too old to work or has been injured, every effort is made to find it a good home. Dogs are not abandoned. Some retired military dogs go to work for police or fire departments. Former handlers have the first chance to adopt their dog partners. The military finds good matches for its working dogs. For example, only calm, gentle dogs would be allowed to be adopted by families with kids. Adopting families must be able to care for the dogs as well. Troops who have worked with the dogs want them to have a life where they can retire and be couch potatoes!

Working dog school After they are 6 to 8 months old, puppies leave their foster families and return to the base. There they receive training in subjects including obedience and defense. Explosive-detecting dogs are trained to smell nine different odors. Other dogs may be trained to sniff out drugs.

Foster puppy program Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, breeds its own military working dogs. When the puppies are ready to leave their mom, they are fostered with families. If the dogs were raised only on the base, they could get upset if they saw unfamiliar types of people, such as kids.

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Staff Sgt. Christa Quam holds a puppy that will enter the military working dog program at Lackland Air Force Base.

Jimmy K-193 sniffs a suspicious piece of luggage during training at Beale Air Force Base in California, as Staff Sgt. Curtis Lewis guides him.

photo by Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway, courtesy U.S. Air Force

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeOatmeal Applesauce Cookies

You’ll need:• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar• 1/2 cup vegetable oil• 1 teaspoon vanilla• 1/4 teaspoon salt• 11/2 cups applesauce• 4 cups quick-cooking oats (cooks in 1 minute)• 1/2 cup chopped dates (or 1/2 cup raisins)What to do:1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees; spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.2. Using a large bowl, thoroughly mix the brown sugar, oil, vanilla and salt.3. Stir in the applesauce, oats and dates.4. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the dough about 1 inch apart on the

cookie sheets.5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned. Makes 3 dozen cookies. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

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Larry: Why don’t lions eat clowns?Lucy: Because they taste funny!

Lisa: How do lions like their meat cooked?Laura: Medium-roar!

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Leonard: What do you get when you cross a woodpecker and a lion?

Lottie: An animal that knocks before it eats you!

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy is helping her friend train a dog for the military. See if you can find: • marshmallow • kite• hourglass • letter E • ruler • cleaver• letter H • whale • word MINI • banana• two birds • number 7 • carrot • letter B• pencil • ladder • cherry • flyswatter


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Meet Diane Lane Diane Lane stars as Penny in the Disney movie “Secretariat.” She has starred in many TV shows, commercials and movies, including “My Dog Skip” and “The Perfect Storm.” Diane, 45, was born in New York. Her father was a drama coach and her mother was a singer. When she was 6, she answered a call for child actors at a theater. She began acting on the stage soon after. When she was 13, she got a part in the

movie “A Little Romance.” She got several parts after that, but decided to quit acting when she was 19. She returned to acting after a three-year break. Diane likes to travel, go for walks, practice yoga and ride horses.

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Protecting Our Troops

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

Saving lives Handlers say military working dogs save lives every single day. Dogs not only detect explosive materials and drugs, but they also can tell if someone is acting suspiciously. If their team is under attack, dogs will protect their people. The most common military working dogs are German shepherds and Belgian Malinois. They have the best combination of strong senses of smell and hearing, strength, courage, intelligence, and the ability to adapt to different climates. Other breeds, such as golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers, are excellent search dogs. If the dogs detect something wrong, they are trained to sit. When they respond as they should, they are rewarded with treats or toys. Handlers always carry toys, even on patrol.

Keeping fit Military working dogs have to stay fit. The long flights to their base, the amount of weight they have to carry, and the long hours of work are hard on the dogs. Dogs may work for anywhere from four to 13 years before retirement. Dogs go on more missions than their handlers do. Dogs and handlers grow close, and it is hard for the partners to be separated.

A ‘ruff’ job Missions can be hard on military working dogs. They might walk four to five miles in the hot desert and then still have to search and protect a team member. They wear booties to protect them from glass, sand and rugged land. It can get so hot that sand or concrete could burn their paws. They also wear bulletproof vests that weigh about 15 pounds. The vest plus all their fur can make them very hot. Handlers carry extra water and collapsible water bowls for the dogs.

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Ogle and military working dog Liaka prepare to go out on a joint patrol with Iraqi National Police in Baghdad, Iraq.

photo by Spc. Richard Daniels Jr., courtesy U.S. Army

Meky, an explosives detector dog, plays with a ball after a day of training at a base in Afghanistan.

The Mini Page thanks 1st Lt. Natassia Cherne, U.S. Air Force, and Tech. Sgt. Uilani Bio and Staff Sgt. Joshua Brock, 802nd Security Forces Squadron, Lackland AFB, for help with this issue. ph

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Scott, a Belgian Malinois military working dog, wears protective gear: goggles, booties and a bulletproof vest.

Look through your newspaper for Veterans Day events and stories.

Next week, The Mini Page is about Mark Twain’s 175th birthday.

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Spc. Joshua Duncan guides Tan, a search dog, through an obstacle course. Working dogs never stop training.


Supersport: Greg McElroyHeight: 6-3 Weight: 225 Hometown: Southlake, Texas He is a poised leader and a proficient passer. But mostly, Alabama’s Greg McElroy is a winner. Make that a big winner. As of early October, in the 35 games he had started at quarterback — dating back to high school — his teams were unbeaten.

Last year McElroy completed 60.9 percent of his passes, for 2,508 yards and 17 touchdowns, to help the Crimson Tide win its 13th national football championship. This fall he’s riddling defenses again and aiming to lead No. 1-ranked ’Bama to a second straight NCAA title. McElroy has put up nifty numbers in the classroom as well. He has made the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll three times, already earned a degree in business marketing, and is currently working on a master’s in sports administration. For his academic and athletic success, plus community service work, he received the 2010 Paul W. (Bear) Bryant Student-Athlete Award. He’s a big winner on and off the field.

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caring for canines · vietnam vietnam war. experts estimate they and their human handlers saved...

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