Did anyone see the story of the war dogs on last night's 60 Minutes?

[Stinky The Clown]

The dog jumping out of a plane cradled in his handler's arms? Wow!

The bit about the dogs getting the exact same treatment as a human when they're wounded.

The Taliban telling its soldiers to shoot the dogs even before you try for any human.

Running at 30 mph to bring down a man . . . . and then not kill him, using only enough force to hold him.

The use three breeds: Belgian Malamois, German Shepherd Dogs, and Dutch Shepherds, all three very closely related.

One of the dogs sitting next to his partner as the partner is being interviewed. The dog's eyes never leaving his partner.

One of the trainers remarked that finding suitable dogs is little different from looking for unicorns.

[BainsBane]

1. No, I'm sorry I missed it.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I wish we didn't use any other living creature in our inhumane wars.

[IrishAyes]

4. My wish also

However, since wars there are, I'm grateful for the protection these noble animals offer our sons, daughters,husbands, and wives in the field, to increase everyone's chance of survival. Not too many soldiers crave the battlefield experience, and any decent commander carries a huge burden about having to send them in harm's way.

[IrishAyes]

3. Saw it, loved it

Their training is a bit different from jungle patrol dogs, to the best of my understanding. But they do indeed deserve the best we can offer them.

[jimmyolsenblues]

5. My heart breaks

I registed to this site, just for this specific topic.
Let me say:
I am not a vegan, I eat meat.
I understand animal testing can help humans live longer through cancer research.

Where I get angry is, I do love dogs.
I have owned two dogs more loyal than most people I have met.

I was horrified last night when they showed the dog strapped to the solider, to jump.

I understand using dogs to sniff for illegal items and bombs, but this is combat.
This using dogs in combat.
That was done by the Romans.
We have come 2000 years and we are just as brutal as the romans. No progress what so ever in the human soul.

I checked Peta.org and Peta on twitter, not a thing, not a note, not a word from a twitter account that tweets 25 times a day.

Look I could care less if they farm minks for 1000 years , no one ever had a mink as a companion.

I was absolutely horrified last night when I saw that dog against its own will to jump out of a plane.

Dogs should not be used in war.
Bring all the troops home.
Stop hurting people.
Stop killing people.
Please.
We have to evolve from trying to kill each other over every little thing.

[hrmjustin]

6. Welcome to Du my friend!

[Auntie Bush]

7. Wow! What a first post! Welcome to DU Jimmyolsonblues.

[avebury]

8. Agree 1000% nt

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Thanks for saying that.

Although I was really proud of how incredible those dogs were, I agree that using dogs in war is a great injustice to the dogs.

On the other hand, IF we are going to send our young men into war, I am glad that they have the dogs to help keep them safe.

Sadly, we have not evolved enough to stop killing.


Welcome to DU. Hang around and post more.

[DainBramaged]

10. This is the most humane group here

thankng you for picking pets as your first post.

[get the red out]

13. I am like you about dogs

I am so sick of war, and these brave souls don't get a choice to even think about whether they join up or not.

I love dogs so much, it's all I can do to not go completely off when I see some so-called "liberal" spout off online somewhere about how we need to "respect" so many of the ways they are misused, like being killed for meat after being crammed into trucks to take God knows where for slaughter. They are our loyal companions and I do not care about any sort of "logic" some dumbass will want to cram down my throat when it comes to dogs (cats or horses either, for the same reasons).

I read an article about a large number of these brave, well trained, loyal beings being "packed" wrong (like inanimate war items) on their way to the wars some time ago. They all smothered to death, in terror I am sure. I am still haunted by that story. I can't allow myself to think of it for very long at a time. I can't get it out of my mind forever either. We did that.....

I will fight over dogs. Shit, I'd vote for a Republican if it would somehow help dogs (though of course it wouldn't). Dogs are incredibly special and anyone who thinks differently I have no problem looking at as a complete pile of dung.

[Phentex]

14. Welcome!

I didn't see the show but I expect I'd have had similar thoughts. I am completely against any war.

[Sunlei]

11. was a good 60 mins and the humans were as 'twichie' as those dog breeds are :)

Would love to see them use small horses for some of those war missions that require scent work and calmness. They live longer than dogs.

It's always sad to see how grey some of their best dogs are. I've had dogs like that they never take their eyes off you. Devoted and loyal, they will die for you.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. "Devoted and loyal, they will die for you."

Yes, they would, they have, and they will. All of that is testimony to the dogs.