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K-9 and Fallschirmjaeger handler, The Netherlands, circa 1942
German soldiers pioneered the use of K-9's long before WWII, and continued
to utilize the dogs until the end of the conflict. Dogs were used on guard
stations, as sentries, and to provide crowd control. Here, a German
Paratrooper works with his companion after a long day on duty.
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US Army Ranger and K-9, Vietnam
In the Jungles and Mountains of Vietnam, K-9's were used on sentry duty,
bomb detection, and patrol. Many dogs lost their lives in the fighting,
often saving the lives of the squad or platoon relying on their skills.
Dogs sniffed out traps, ambushes, and hidden bombs both in the fields
and around the bases. Here, a ranger from the 75th stand post with his
partner. He has abandoned the heavier M14 rifle for the lighter, smaller
M1 carbine for his duty.
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K-9 and Police Handler, circa 1995
Dogs and Police officers have joined forces for centuries. As trackers,
bloodhounds, sniffers and protectors, K-9's enjoy a place in Public Safety
unparralleled in nearly any other service. This officer works with his
doberman, preparing to release him on a "search" for a hidden
suspect. K-9's speed, strength, size and abilities often make it
impossible for suspects to hide, no matter if they are in a warehouse,
office building, or swamp. These dogs are trained to find them no matter
what tricks are tried.
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K-9 Urban Search and Rescue, circa 2001
The ideas behind SaR dogs come from the French and Swiss Mountain dogs. No
longer used simply to find skiers lost in avalanches, or lost hikers in
the woods, these trained dogs are used after earthquakes, building
collapses, floods, and hurricanes to locate survivors thousands of times
faster and better than their human partners. These dogs are often the
first line of hope that survivors have after a disaster, and these dogs
work themselves relentlessly, as if they know themselves the time element
quickly ticking away.
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