This archive includes blog posts published by the Military Working Dog Team Support Association prior to 2016, as well as miscellaneous content that is now out-of-date.

MWDTSA, founded in 2006, has served hundreds of military working dog teams in all branches of the service. We provide care packages to handlers and K9s serving in global combat zones. We schedule recognition events for active duty teams at home station kennels.

As well, we support veterans causes and much more. The blog posts in this archive cover a range of topics, from kennel visits to donor thank yous. For more stories, also check out our Kennel Talk archive here: https://www.mwdtsa.org/kennel-talk-newsletter-archive/

Will you become part of MWDTSA’s story? We are seeking volunteers to help in variety of roles, including fundraising. It’s an honor to support our troops, both the two-legged and four-legged variety! For more information, visit https://www.mwdtsa.org/.

Mariani Bars: Heaven In a Wrapper

DSC_7749 aA huge thank you to Mariani Packing Company for their support in our 1st  Quarter Care Packages.

The Honey Bars were a huge hit with our deployed dog handlers.  When this shipment arrived and I opened them to have a look, I thought we had something really special

After the care packages were sent,  I received this personal note from one of the dog teams, who described the Honey Bars as, “Heaven in a Wrapper”, I was sure these bars were as wonderfully tasting as they were nutritious.  These are great options for anyone working, exercising and wanting a handy, nutritious snack.  Please be sure to stop by the website http://www.mariani.com/ to thank this sponsor and to order your own piece of Heaven.  : )   We always want to support and thank our sponsors.

Thanks, Loretta for your great note.  We always appreciate hearing for our wonderful dog teams.

001

Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis, Mississppi

Thanks to our great friends at the Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, MWDTSA was able to include decks of playing cards in our last care packages.   What a great way for the dog handlers to pass the time  between missions.  Thanks, Silver Slipper!
We LOVE our donors and ask that you support them whenever you can.

MWD Bak is KIA

We are saddened to report that a dog from Fort Stewart, GA, MWD Bak, was Killed in Action on Monday in Afghanistan. A young, energetic dog, Bak was ambushed by the insider attack that also took the lives of two American soldiers and two Afghani policemen.

The handler was wounded, but is expected to make a quick recovery. The photo above shows Bak with his trainer while learning the ropes. We do not have a photo of him with his handler at this time.

This one is so emotional for me because when I first heard the news of the attack, before details were released, I just felt that we were somehow connected. Sadly, I was correct. Bak and his handler were on MWDTSA’s list of teams being supported with Care Packages so all of our donors had a hand in supporting this team.

MWDTSA has offered our condolences and assistance to this kennel. Please keep them in your thoughts.

International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

003 008

Our friends at a Paterson, NJ elementary school partnered with us again for another round of great artwork and letters being sent out to handlers. These were done in the first week of February, but didn’t arrive quite in time to be sent with the 1st Quarter Care Packages so they are now being sent in honor of International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, which happens to be today, February 23rd!

DSC_8406

They also sent some Old Mother Hubbard biscuits for the occasion!

I wish I had time and space to scan and share all of the cards and letters. It is really hard to select just a handful as they are all precious and all worthy of sharing.

002 004 006 007

005 009

I was going to share these great photos on International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, but because of a family illness and hospitalization, I missed it. Thanks to these great kids for their support and know that your biscuits are on their way!

49th Engineer Detachment Dogs Deployed

Sgt. Garret Grenier, a dog handler, and Staff Sgt. Drake, a mine-detection dog, seek out "mines."
Sgt. Garrett Grenier, a dog handler, and Staff Sgt. Drake, a mine-detection dog, enjoy a game of fetch before training at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Sgt. Garrett Grenier, a dog handler, and Staff Sgt. Drake, a mine-detection dog, enjoy a game of fetch before training at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Grenier and Drake are both attached to the 49th Engineer Detachment (mine dogs) and train daily pending weather and mission tempo. The handlers warm up their dogs with games of tug-of-war and fetch to get them into the training mindset.

Sgt. Brian Curd, a dog handler, shows Staff Sgt. Allen, a mine-detection dog, some affection after a training session at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Sgt. Brian Curd, a dog handler, shows Staff Sgt. Allen, a mine-detection dog, some affection after a training session at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Curd and Allen are both with the 49th Engineer Detachment (mine dogs) based out of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and deployed to detect mines for line units and clear minefields for expansion.

Sgt. Garret Grenier, a dog handler, gives Staff Sgt. Drake, a mine-detection dog, his favorite toy as a reward after a successful training session at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Sgt. Garret Grenier, a dog handler, gives Staff Sgt. Drake, a mine-detection dog, his favorite toy as a reward after a successful training session at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2013.

Drake and Grenier are members of the 49th Engineer Detachment (mine dogs). A military working dog’s rank is always higher than its handler in order to promote the welfare of the animal. If the handler abuses the dog, he can be punished for hurting a superior noncommisioned officer.

Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Bonebrake, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Military Working Dog Love

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, here are some of our favorite photos to showcase the connection, respect and love between dog and dog handler.  Some of these are older, but still great photos.

Above, A Military Working Dog plays with Staff Sgt. Stephanie Pecovsky, 11 SFG MWD trainer, while taking a break during a ruck march Aug. 8, 2012 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. The Airmen are getting the MWD acclimated to walking long distances and still performing their duties, before they are deployed downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)

523424_4217275952872_1965525698_n

Courtesy DoD.

I love Lucy

Lucy and AJ.   Photo courtesy AJ Nieto

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Kubit, from Marine Corps Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, rewards her working dog, Britt, after finding a simulated improvised explosive device during a training exercise at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2009. Marines and Sailors from Task Force Military Police conduct exercises to ensure working dogs remain trained and ready for operations while deployed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chance M. Hiser/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Kubit, from Marine Corps Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, rewards her working dog, Britt, after finding a simulated improvised explosive device during a training exercise at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2009. Marines and Sailors from Task Force Military Police conduct exercises to ensure working dogs remain trained and ready for operations while deployed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chance M. Hiser/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Kubit, from Marine Corps Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, rewards her working dog, Britt, after finding a simulated improvised explosive device during a training exercise.. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chance M. Hiser/Released.

Kudos to our Post Office

Packing is just one part of the equation….. that took place on Saturday for a large number of care packages.  Today was shipping day, which requires timing, patience and hard work.  Yesterday, we coordinated with the local post office that we would be sending out 70 of the packages today.  We took them to the back door (bulk door) of the local post office and off loaded them onto a huge bin.
DSC_7764

The post office staff rolled them to the front of the post office and we met up with the packages again on the front side at the customer service counters.  10:00 on Tuesday is generally a light  time for the clerks on the front counter so they all pitched in getting these packages processed.  Customs forms, signed, dated, weighed, inserted into sleeves and attached to each box.

Postage has just gone up to $14.85 a package.  Ouch!  $1039.50 was the total bill from both clerks who were working as hard and fast as they could work.  It took us about two hours of clerk time to get them all processed.  I’m exhausted and I know they are, too, from all of the lifting and processing.  LOL.  But, the end result is that 70 more care packages are on their way down range.

Don’t Make Me Come and Make You Stop!

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 10, 2013) A military working dog (MWD) assigned to Commander, Navy Region Southwest San Diego MWD Kennel participates in a controlled aggression patrol exercise on Naval Air Station North Island. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenan O’Connor/Released)

130110-N-TQ272-152

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 10, 2013) Master-at-Arms Seaman Apprentice Randy Tallman, assigned to Commander, Navy Region Southwest, acts as a military working dog moving target during a controlled aggression exercise. The exercises are conducted to train the dogs in subduing non-compliant suspects. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mark El-Rayes/Released) ( Love the length on this jump – is that body open or what!)

130110-N-TQ272-439

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 10, 2013) Shawn Carter, right, a Police Canine Handler assigned to Commander, Navy Region Southwest, gives a military working dog (MWD) the command to halt during a controlled aggression patrol exercise against Master-at-Arms Seaman Apprentice Randy Tallman. The exercises are conducted to train MWDs in subduing non-compliant suspects. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mark El-Rayes/Released)

One Handler, One Dog –

Soldiers and Military Working Dogs, with the 209th Military Police Detachment, celebrate the official designation of Military Dog Handler Day in the state of Georgia thanks to lobbying efforts from the non-profit group, Military Working Dog Team Support Association. Photos by Susanna Avery-Lynch

Powering Down

209th MWD Day-13-X3

Soldiers and Military Working Dogs, with the 209th Military Police Detachment, celebrate the official designation of Military Dog Handler Day in the state of Georgia thanks to lobbying efforts from the non-profit group, Military Working Dog Team Support Association. Photos by Susanna Avery-Lynch