By Deborah Kandoll

Military working dogs (MWDs) are the unsung four-legged heroes of our armed services. Every day, these amazing dog heroes put their lives on the line, on patrol and on specialized drug and explosive detection missions around the world. Wherever there are American security forces, MWDs are there serving right beside them.

When these dogs grow too old or cannot physically continue on with the rigorous standards required of military working dogs, they can be retired from the military and offered for adoption to qualified civilians and law-enforcement handlers.

Finding a Dog Hero
Because there is a long waiting list, it can take a year to 18 months to adopt from the 341st MWD Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base (LAFB) in San Antonio. LAFB also adopts out dogs that “wash out” of the training program. Although they might not have been suited for military life, they’re still wonderful dogs.

Many military working dog facilities exist throughout the country. To shorten the lengthy waiting time for your companion, you can also actively call any of these groups to inquire if veteran dogs will be retired soon. My website offers more information at MilitaryWorkingDogAdoptions.com.

These Dogs Are Indeed Special
I established my group’s website in 2008 as a result of my own personal MWD adoption experience. I made 50 calls before I discovered my first MWD, Benny B163, a beautiful black and tan German Shepherd. I thought I knew all about the breed after owning seven German Shepherds. But my Benny made me see what military dog handlers speak of in reverent terms. The relationship they have with their working dogs is unique from any other. The depth of its closeness, loyalty and trust cannot be quantified in words. My special 12-year-old Benny passed away from a heart attack on January 3, 2010.

My husband and I are now overjoyed to have 12-year-old Bino C152 (USA, Ret.) and 9- year-old Alex H116 (USAF, Ret.) as our new and much-beloved family members. Bino C152, a narcotics detection/patrol dog, had paws on the ground in Iraq for 14 months. Alex H116 served two six-month stints in Iraq as a patrol dog. Their time to enjoy a well-earned rest at “Ft. Couch” has come!

How You Can Learn More
I founded Military Working Dog Adoptions to help make sure that all of these dog heroes find happy homes. MWD Adoptions accepts donations, which it uses to transport adopted MWDs in need of a ride to their new homes. We also help out with military working dogs’ medical costs from time to time. Our paperwork as a nonprofit is pending. However, every dime we receive goes directly to help these veteran canines and the families who adopt them.

Visit our website for more information on how to adopt or otherwise help one of these amazing creatures.

This article originally appeared on www.exceptionalcanine.com, an independent editorial source.

We are taking submissions now through May 4th 5pm EST!  Be sure to check here for the 2013 Eukanuba Calendar Contest rules and click here for answers to common issues uploading pictures.

Eukanuba will choose 5 finalists, and our Eukanuba Facebook fans will vote for their favorite between May 7th – 11th.  The winner gets a year of free food from Eukanuba and a month in the 2013 Eukanuba Calendar!  The calendars will be available free in participating pet stores at the end of 2012.

Good luck!

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What is the 2013 Eukanuba Calendar Contest?

This is a contest held only on our Eukanuba Facebook page where our fans can upload pictures of their dogs for a chance to win a year of free food and a month in the 2013 Eukanuba Calendar!   This contest started in January 2012 and will go through August 2012.

Official Rules.

Congratulations to all who entered their dogs in the Any Breed submissions period for the 2013 Eukanuba Calendar Contest.  It was close, but there can only be one winner!

Congratulations to Cali! You will have your own month in our 2013 Eukanuba Calendar and a year of FREE FOOD!

Up next: Starting at 9am Monday May 14th start submitting your German Shepherds   Get your pictures ready and enter here!

Official Rules.

MT. SHASTA, CALIFORNIA (May 6, 2012) – 12 year-old Team Eukanuba member and Tri-Tronics supported Marisa Melo of Mt. Shasta, California and her dog Kerryburke’s California Dolly MH (call name Dolly) would travel to Fallon, NV to attempt to qualify for the Master Nationals with just one additional event pass needed of the two events being held in Fallon thru the weekend.

Marisa would start the weekend off in high spirits and felt good about the event starting Thursday morning. Those high spirits would quickly be dashed as the team would walk off the line after just the first series, out of the competition.

“I was shocked we just simply messed up the first series. There were new concepts the judges threw at us and obviously neither I nor Dolly was ready for it,” said Marisa Melo. “I think only 21 of the 50 entered in the stake made it through the first series. It was really tough!”

The duo that has impressed so many would regroup and after watching video of the series and working with her mother, Misty Melo, and mentor, Kerry Lavin, they would identify what happened and plan to get ready for the second event of the double-header weekend to be held Saturday. Marisa and Dolly would regain their confidence by Marisa running Dolly and her mother’s dog “Major” as test dogs for the other series and they did not miss a beat.

With their confidence up and lessons learned from Thursday, the team of Marisa and Dolly would walk up to the line Saturday morning and show their poise and experience and then cruise through all three series spread over two days and be one of the 26 of 48 entries entered to successfully gain their sixth pass that would qualify them to head to Greensboro, AL for the Master Nationals in October.

“I am so excited to be qualified and going to the Nationals, everyone has told me how much fun it is, and I can’t wait to get there and see what Dolly and I can do.” said Marisa Melo. “I want to again thank everyone involved with helping me. My parents have given me so many opportunities to be good at this and without them and people like Kerry Lavin, Cindy Tulpa, Jay & Raelene Phelps, Amy Hayre of LabAdored, Warner Smith of Tri Tronics, and Rick Dirmeyer of Eukanuba, along with others, none of this would be happening.

Next for Marisa and Dolly will be continued training in the fields along with attending a Dave Rorem training seminar in Butte, MT in July. The team will also continue to run in at least four additional Master tests prior to October to continue to work on their skills. You can view their schedule at www.pepperjackkennels.com

Marisa will continue to travel and compete this season with continued support from industry leaders such as Tri-Tronics, Eukanuba, LabAdored and PepperJack Kennels and will be mentored directly under Misty Melo and Kerry Lavin. With the support group this young talent has around her, she will continue to focus on a few goals which are to have fun, represent her sponsors well, and work on preparing for the 2012 Master Nationals to be held October 18-28^th in Greensboro, Alabama.

If you are interested in learning more about or supporting Marisa, you can visit the PepperJack Kennels website at www.pepperjackkennels.com

Written by: Marty Melo

Congratulations to the following PetSmart “My Dog’s Mission”  winners, each are currently featured on a Eukanuba dog food package sold exclusively at PetSmart! Below are the winning entries and pictures:

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Congratulations K-9 Arras on being featured on a Eukanuba Large Breed Adult bag!

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K-9 ARRAS – Large Breed Adult Winner – “To Protect & Serve”

K-9 Arras was imported from the Netherlands in December of 2002 by Vohne Liche Kennels in Peru, Indiana. After I was chosen to be the next K-9 Officer by my department (Warren City PD, Warren, Ohio), a seasoned handler & myself made the trip to the kennels. We chose Arras from approximately 90 other dogs because of his incredible drive & fabulous personality. We then completed 6 weeks of rigorous training. Since then, we have been protecting & serving the citizens of our community by taking a lot of illegal drugs & bad guys off the streets. Arras also visits our schools, community meetings & children’s groups teaching them what being a police officer is all about. He is the best partner & companion anyone could hope for & I am truly blessed to have him. That is why he has been eating Eukanuba foods from the 1st bowl of food I gave him & will continue until the last )

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Congratulations Bella on being featured on a Eukanuba Adult Maintenance bag!

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BELLA – Adult Maintenance – Small Bite Winner – “Bella loves to volunteer”

Bella is a registered therapy dog, specializing in the reading education assistance program. Her mission is to improve the reading, comprehension and confidence in all the children that read to her. She also likes to show all the children that they are loved and special in her eyes. Schools, libraries, churches and care facilities are among the places she volunteers. Along the journey she has also learned to read. She can read a word on a card and do the behavior. She is up to eight words. She likes to do demonstrations for the children and then have me tell them “everyone can read, even a dog”. Bella loves to volunteer, she tries to inspire others to volunteer, to show that everyone has a gift or a talent they can share, including a dog.

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Congratulations Yogi on being featured on a Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy bag!

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YOGI – Large Breed Puppy Winner – “Yogi to the Rescue”

My name is Yogi, as in Yogi Bear. You might think my mission is to steal picnic baskets, but it’s way more exciting than that. At 1 week of age, I was promised to one family, but at 5 weeks of age they decided they couldn’t have me. Fate intervened, and on 12/27/10, I traveled to the home I was always destined to go to. Originally, my mission was to mend the broken hearts of my family who had suddenly, and tragically, lost their other dog. I decided right away to be the best dog ever so as to make things easier for them. Instantly, I showed them how smart and loving I was. I was house trained in 10 days, and learned simple commands like sit, lay, shake, stay and leave it in the first two weeks. I make my family smile constantly. They say I am the best medicine for whatever ails them. They really love my head to toe wiggle when I get really excited. I don’t just wag my tail, I wag my body. It makes them laugh every time. Mission accomplished!

Well, I thought I had successfully completed my mission, but I now know my journey has just begun. My family is so thrilled with my personality that they want me to become a therapy dog and share my love with others. They want me to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and especially the autism classes at the school where mom works. They know I can bring happiness to so many others. I’m in basic puppy training classes now, plus mom and dad do their own socialization training with me. They take me to a park and then to PetSmart every night. I walk the aisles in the store meeting new dogs and people. Mom and dad want me to be prepared for all situations, and to learn to hold back a little of my initial excitement when meeting new people. I’m working on that. If PetSmart had door greeters, I would be their guy. I haven’t met a person yet that I can’t make smile. Anyway, I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I couldn’t be happier.

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Congratulations Reba on being featured on a Eukanuba Adult Maintenance bag!

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REBA – Adult Maintenance  Winner – “Service Dog Producer!”

I started fostering Reba as a new brood dog for Guiding Eyes for the Blind almost 5 years ago. While an active breeder for this organization, she had 4 litters and from those litters produced 4 guide dogs for the blind, 2 wheelchair assistance dogs and a hospital facility dog, 1 explosive detection canine, 2 ATF dogs, and 2 therapy dogs and an autism support dog. She is a wonderfully goofy, always happy yellow lab who makes OUR life great, but she has also helped many, many others through her puppies! Now retired, she is “just” a dog. Just OUR dog, so her well deserved retirement includes getting her Canine Good Citizen certification and lots of long walks/hikes/trips to the dog park. AND she is a Canine Ambassador for Guiding Eyes for the Blind!