Topic: Paws of Honor

[Scott S]

My wife is a K9 handler for TSA. When a K9 is retired, the handler always gets the option to keep him/her, or have them adopted out.
We currently have two of her retired partners (plus one active and an Australian Cattle Dog.... pure madness on our part).

When they are retired, the handler is responsible for 100% of their care. Food, housing and often incredibly high medical bills.

Amor-Amoroso (Amor) is a 5 year old GSP and he started having nosebleeds recently. I'm talking crime scene levels of blood. I won't traumatize you with the pics and videos.
Unfortunately, cancer and tumor rates run high in retired K9's.

We had him checked out, but the vet suggested a cat-scan, scope, biopsy, etc. These tests would have cost us more than $4,000. And that's just for the diagnosis. Aftercare, meds, etc., would still be our responsibility.

That's where Paws of Honor came to the rescue. They accepted his application and have covered 100% of his medical expenses so far. Without them, we would have been faced with a very difficult decision.
Thankfully, Amor seems to be OK, with nothing major found and a plan for treatment going forward.

If you ever felt like helping a charity or non-profit, please consider Paws of Honor.
K9's served just like a member of the military or police. Often, they give a significant portion of their life to serving. Please give back if you can.

https://pawsofhonor.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Pawsofhonor?mibextid=ZbWKwL

[Scott S]

 Interesting facts about Amor:
 - He has worked presidential details
 - He is a tribute dog, named for Christopher Amoroso

https://www.facebook.com/PapdOfficerChristopherAmorosoMemorialPage/

[ekpent]

We have a German Shorthair, my 4th, hope it doesn't start getting nosebleeds !!

[HondaMan]

About 2 weeks ago, a near-copy of your pal Amor-Amoroso came into the gunstore where I work, with his handler, a local city cop.
Both were carrying Glocks! I haven't seen that before.

[RAFster122s]

Wanna talk crazy service dogs, Belgian Shepherds...the Malinois, are incredible. I never tire of videos of them in action.
"The Belgian Malinois, also known as the Belgian Shepherd, is the predominant breed utilized by SEAL Teams. Favored for their intelligence, agility, loyalty, and stealth, Belgian Malinois are fierce and fast with acute vision. Lighter and leaner than the German Shepherd traditionally employed as the police working dog, the Belgian Malinois sports a compact frame, which is advantageous when tandem parachute jumping or rappelling, an intrinsic part of many SEAL missions. Their exceptional sense of smell makes these canines an optimal breed for detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”

They do not slow down before the hit someone they are going to take down...most other breeds will. Obstacles put in front of them they will go over, 6-7-8 foot fence...no problem...they will find a way.
High energy dog that is super active. I could never keep up with one...

[newday777]

Wanna talk crazy service dogs, Belgian Shepherds...the Malinois, are incredible. I never tire of videos of them in action.
"The Belgian Malinois, also known as the Belgian Shepherd, is the predominant breed utilized by SEAL Teams. Favored for their intelligence, agility, loyalty, and stealth, Belgian Malinois are fierce and fast with acute vision. Lighter and leaner than the German Shepherd traditionally employed as the police working dog, the Belgian Malinois sports a compact frame, which is advantageous when tandem parachute jumping or rappelling, an intrinsic part of many SEAL missions. Their exceptional sense of smell makes these canines an optimal breed for detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”

They do not slow down before the hit someone they are going to take down...most other breeds will. Obstacles put in front of them they will go over, 6-7-8 foot fence...no problem...they will find a way.
High energy dog that is super active. I could never keep up with one...

I've seen them in action, and just playing at a neighbor's house. There's usually a group of them that train at the local National Guard property. Very impressive dog.

[RAFster122s]

Scott, thanks for sharing about your dogs and the organization that has helped you guys. Very worthy organization!

The SEALS chose a dog that can be a sneaky son of a #$%*, just like them!

I see people and their pets that are wearing "Service Dog" vests when they have no discipline and clearly are just a pet, not even a certified emotional support animal which is a trained animal. They make me sick. Was at the doctor's office at new doctor recently and a lady comes in with her poodle with the fake vest and it clearly wasn't a service animal. But, hey maybe it was but they have no shame saying their pet services them...

[ekpent]

One of my old Shorthairs Rose now deceased trying to get that squirrel. Really liked that dog.  My new liver one Molly when it was just a puppy showing off a shed it found    She's 3 or 4 now.  I can see why they use them for bomb and drug sniffers, incredible sense of smell. No eating alone around our house !! 

[Scott S]

 Iza is our liver one. Now liver and white! She's an old lady, also retired K9.

[ekpent]

Sweet Sugar Face !!

[HondaMan]

Iza is our liver one. Now liver and white! She's an old lady, also retired K9.

Bless YOU for taking HER in!
There's 4 little rug-rat rescues at my feet...add all 4 together and you'd have 1/3 of Iza.

[bear]

Wanna talk crazy service dogs, Belgian Shepherds...the Malinois, are incredible. I never tire of videos of them in action.
"The Belgian Malinois, also known as the Belgian Shepherd, is the predominant breed utilized by SEAL Teams. Favored for their intelligence, agility, loyalty, and stealth, Belgian Malinois are fierce and fast with acute vision. Lighter and leaner than the German Shepherd traditionally employed as the police working dog, the Belgian Malinois sports a compact frame, which is advantageous when tandem parachute jumping or rappelling, an intrinsic part of many SEAL missions. Their exceptional sense of smell makes these canines an optimal breed for detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”

They do not slow down before the hit someone they are going to take down...most other breeds will. Obstacles put in front of them they will go over, 6-7-8 foot fence...no problem...they will find a way.
High energy dog that is super active. I could never keep up with one...

I've seen them in action, and just playing at a neighbor's house. There's usually a group of them that train at the local National Guard property. Very impressive dog.

They call them "Land Sharks" down here.

[Scott S]

Wanna talk crazy service dogs, Belgian Shepherds...the Malinois, are incredible. I never tire of videos of them in action.
"The Belgian Malinois, also known as the Belgian Shepherd, is the predominant breed utilized by SEAL Teams. Favored for their intelligence, agility, loyalty, and stealth, Belgian Malinois are fierce and fast with acute vision. Lighter and leaner than the German Shepherd traditionally employed as the police working dog, the Belgian Malinois sports a compact frame, which is advantageous when tandem parachute jumping or rappelling, an intrinsic part of many SEAL missions. Their exceptional sense of smell makes these canines an optimal breed for detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).”

They do not slow down before the hit someone they are going to take down...most other breeds will. Obstacles put in front of them they will go over, 6-7-8 foot fence...no problem...they will find a way.
High energy dog that is super active. I could never keep up with one...

I've seen them in action, and just playing at a neighbor's house. There's usually a group of them that train at the local National Guard property. Very impressive dog.

 When my wife was in K9 school at Lackland AFB, I got to see them training the Malinois. It was very impressive. And slightly scary.
 I think there are one or two at her job, but handled by the CMPD. She says they goofy and super hyper.

 We have a Blue Heeler, so I know hyper.

[RAFster122s]

The pups will grab hold of a trainer’s pant leg, three or four of them and not let go, hanging on while they shake them trying to get them to release. They don’t let go. Flying leaps at full speed hitting and biting an arm flinging the guy in the attack suit to the ground as they sling shot them down hard. They release on the ground to attack.
They climb ladders and even seen them walking tight ropes. Chain link fences are a cake walk, but lots of dogs learn how to scale them if they want to…seen boxers do it… and collies.
Can’t is not in their vocabulary and they don’t give up unless called off by the handler.
They are a four legged nightmare for any bad guy.
Hyper and high energy and super loyal.
I think scary doesn’t hardly seem strong enough.
They definitely have personalities.
Used to a Doberman was considered scary, Malinois make them look like punks.

Blue Heelers are cool dogs…

We had a chow and collie mix that was as gentle around us as could be…fantastic around kids. But, you didn’t go into her yard or threaten any of us unless you wanted to deal with her. Once had a contractor in backyard to give me a quote for a concrete pad for a 12*14 ft shed I was building. He stood a little close to me and was smoking and gesturing talking with his hands. Had to pull her off of him twice as he gestured towards me with his hand and she must have thought he was going to hit me or something. She didn’t trust him and clearly didn’t like him. She hopped up wrapping her paws around his upper thigh and was going to put him on the ground but I grabbed her collar both times and after 2nd time I told him we couldn’t stay in the backyard as she didn’t like him or trust him.
She never growled was just going to take him down and neutralize him.
Seen her take out a mature full grown possum, two shakes…back and forth from one side to the other snapping its neck. She looked at me before she did it…
Then she ate it. She growled at me after I tried to get her to leave it after she killed it.  I said, fine…to the victor the spoils…
Great dog, I miss her.

[Scott S]

 I'm on my second ACD/Blue Heeler. The first one, Gus, was the best dog I ever had. By far.

 Once, we were having a large flat screen TV delivered to the house. I was at work and the wife answered the door when the delivery arrived. Gus, as always, was right by her side with a laser lock on the two delivery guys.
 One asked "Does she bite?". The wife answered, "If I tell her to!".

 Great answer...really great answer!

[HondaMan]

There's a Blue Heeler near me who can fly.

She's living where the yard is encircled with an 8-foot-high fence (and a 3-foot-high pet door to the human's doghouse) but she regularly gets picked up [again] by the local Animal Control van and returned to the human's doghouse. It's sort of a routine, now.

[Kelly E]

I have a red heeler named Rex. He's the best natural watchdog I've ever had. Knows the property lines and he will nip at people's heels to herd them off the property. He's an excellent judge of character, he ran off a tree trimmer here for a quote. I later found out the guy was a pretty shady contractor.
His favorite thing to do is herding. He will try to herd anything, like ducks, chickens, cats, kids, cars and even airplanes.
During my cancer treatment he was at my side for a year and slept right next to me. Growled at the wife if she tried to move him. Now he only sleeps on the bed if I'm sick.
He's the best dog I've ever had.

[dave500]

I love it,this should all be in the dog lovers thread?