National K9 Veterans Day

National K9 Veterans Day and the dedicated K9 units that have served since World War II are commemorated on March 13th.

A lot of things have changed since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. We rationed oil, leather, and rubber. Draft men are sent by the military draft to serve. Women rolled up their sleeves and assembled war equipment.

And dogs were called to service. During the first world war, the US took note of the European use of canines as sentries, message carriers, and various other uses.

Mrs. Alene Erlanger, a private citizen, initiated a program called Dogs for Defense. The group set out to breed the dogs for military use with the help of the American Kennel Club and a select group of breeders.

The military had the first Dogs for Defense in North Africa by November of 1942. Though they were initially gun shy, they were soon to be well prepared.

The Remount Branch, Service Installations Divisions took over the dogs' training as the war progressed, Dogs for Defense were unable to keep up with the demand, and the Remount Branch, Service Installations Divisions took over the training of the dogs.

Over the years, the military, police,, and rescue have all developed a variety of training methods for K9 units... Their training is tailored to meet the demands of the job, and every animal and handler performs their duties to the fullest...

How to celebrate #nationalk9veteransday

Recognize a K9 veteran
Find out more about their service, history, and preparation
Thousands of people are attending a national convention honoring the working dogs in military units and working dogs around the country.
On social media, use the hashtag #NationalK9VeteransDay to post

Veteran day in the United States has a rich tradition

On March 13th, the official birthday of the US Army K9 Corps, which was established in 1942, is commemorated. National K9 Veterans Day is celebrated on March 13th. Joseph White, a former military working dog trainer, was the inspiration for the day...