Cool Canines

There is an unusual group of heroes currently patrolling alongside the brave Marines in southern Afghanistan. Unlike the regular soldiers, they don’t carry rifles or wear body armor. Their work is saving lives daily.

They are bomb-sniffing dogs.

The dogs’ handlers claim that they are 98 percent accurate. The soldiers actually trust the dogs more than metal detectors and mine sweepers to locate deadly explosive devices. The animals are trained to detect five kinds of threats.

The soldiers love having the dogs around and not just because the dogs make them safer. Many of the young men are dog lovers and find emotional release in petting and playing with them. The soldiers often ask about adopting the dogs when their tours are over.

The dogs begin training when they are puppies and are ready to be deployed at two and a half years old. They are trained by civilians under Defense Department contracts.

Around 70 of the bomb-sniffing hounds are currently serving in southern Afghanistan. Because the Taliban is putting more emphasis on the use of improvised explosive devices (IED’s) against American and allied troops, more of the dogs are expected to be deployed in the near future.

Charlie: There’s only one problem with this otherwise great story…

Annie: You’re not going to launch into another anti-dog tirade, are you?

Charlie: No, No! It’s just that the whole operation over there would be going that much better if they applied cats alongside the dogs!

Annie: I really don’t see how, because our sense of smell isn’t as acute as a dog’s.

Charlie: Oh, I don’t mean that cats would look for bombs. That’s VERY dangerous work best left to expendable critters like dogs!

Annie: Expendable? There you go AGAIN…

Charlie: Just kidding! Just KIDDING! Cats are so cuddly and adorable that we would best be suited to PR work!

Annie: Public Relations?

Charlie: Yes! You know; winning the “hearts and minds” of the local people.

Annie: We could certainly do that, but it’s dangerous just being anywhere over there. AND, in the armed forces they eat meals from ready-made pouches. We wouldn’t be getting our favorite gourmet cat food! No nap time, either.

Charlie: On second thought, maybe we CAN better serve here on the home front keeping up civilian morale!

Annie: Indeed

Related Reading: Bomb-Sniffing Dog

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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: The Chartreux

Current Kitty Quiz: According to legend, which cat breed is descended from ships’ cats brought from the White Sea to Britain in the 1800’s?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

Have a great day!