Vol. 2 Issue 2, May 2010
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May, 2010 Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 2 MWDTSA KENNEL TALK www.mwdtsa.org Join MWDTSA now so you won’t miss any of the Operation Sleep Tight: Sending Kurandas by Dixie Whitman photos, stories, news and highlights of 2010! If One of the most requested you haven’t renewed your items for kennel dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan is beds to get membership for 2010, the dogs off the concrete. In now is the time. the winter months, the concrete is cold on the dogs and year Please support the teams. around causes them uncomfort- able calluses and elbow issues, Inside this issue: especially for those older, hard- working dogs. We sent one over to Lucy and Scott for a Why We Love Lucy 2 “guinea pig test” and the results were phenomenal. Lucy loves it so much that Scott photo- Military Dog Handler 3 graphed and then created a Day Photohop image of her on her K9 Veteran’s Day 7 Kuranda. Event, Knoxville TN When I first heard the word for MWDTSA’s Kuranda drive veterinary contact in Afghani- Tribute to Ann 10 Kuranda, I wondered if it was and sent this wonderful photo stan. She will distribute from Wilkerson some tribe in Northern Iraq shopped image of Lucy on the there. Our ―point of contact‖ that I had never heard men- Kuranda. Since then Patt has address will rotate throughout Fort Benning Visit 11 tioned in the news. I soon donated two more beds and the theatre of operations as we learned that the Kuranda was a our veterinary contact in Af- begin to get beds for the dogs doggy bed — a durable doggy ghanistan, Caroline, is excited most in need. As a donor, you Where’s Courtney? 12 also get a receipt immediately With Muse Watson bed — so durable, in fact, that that those will be going to 7 almost every rescue organiza- year old and 10 year dogs. As from Kuranda that can be used for tax purposes. News Flash: Congratu- tion and animal shelter across a veterinarian, she is thrilled lations to Courtney the country has these beds on that some of the dogs will be Please also consider a Kuranda Griffin, recipient of the their wish lists. able to be off of the concrete for your personal pets. The 2010 Mariel Hannah Patt Glenn, an SPCA member/ to help support joint issues. company has many styles and Humane Heroes Award, supporter from Florida wanted If you are able to support our options when it comes to dog an annual award estab- me to have a look and see if Sleep Tight Kuranda bed drive and cat beds. They are durable, lished by the Atlanta these would meet our needs. with the donation of a bed, it’s washable and are appreciated by Humane Society to If so, she promised to donate very simple to do. All you do both the canine and feline mem- honor a Georgia teen the very first one. We knew is go to : bers of your household. for exemplary service that we’d get the feedback we Thanks, Patt, for the heads up on behalf of animals. http://kuranda.com/ needed from Lucy and Scott so on this remarkable dog bed and Photos & story will be donate/4732/ and make your the first one was sent over to to the Kuranda folks who have next issue. Event: May donation online. It’s simple, rave reviews. Lucy loves it. worked hard to make their pro- 2, 2010. fast and the company actually Scott loves it. In his thank you ships the beds directly overseas gram work for deployed Military note back, Scott mentioned Working Dogs. We appreciate Check out the Blog for for us to the point of contact that he thought Lucy might all of your assistance and your news and exciting pho- on file. Right now that is our want to be the spokes model enthusiasm. tos. Pa ge 2 MWDTSA KENNEL TALK Volume 2, Issue 2 www.mwdtsa.org Why We Love Lucy Original Article by Scott, Lucy’s Daddy To My MWDTSA Family, skull and cross bones design is this, I'm available for any kind right up my ally. I'm a rebel of endorsement deal you want I would like to thank each and chick, lol. Oh, and my new to throw my way. LOL. every one of you for your sup- harness, it's PERFECTO!!! port during these times. Serv- There's nothing like working in I can be so vain, but wouldn't ing my country has so far been style. you be if you looked this a great experience. I've gotten good? I'm a Lab so you must “The to travel all over the world and I like to watch my figure but know that I love anything that FURminator is most dogs just can't say that. who can resist some good ole relates to retrieving. I Afghanistan has been no walk comfort food. Thank you all would LOVE a duck or pheas- the BEST!!! in the park but thanks to your for the variety of snacks that ant retrieving dummy. Oh I gifts I'm able to find comfort you've sent. I'm especially can't wait to retire and actually And the and enjoy a little taste of fond of pig ears, raw hide hunt out birds with dad. wild cherry home. chews, and jerky. It's been quite cold recently and to be I would like to thank you all shampoo?? Well, Dad does a lot of clean up frank the concrete isn't a com- again for all the wonderful gift I can barely keep around my area and he sure is fortable place to lay any- boxes that you've send for dad thankful for all the supplies more. Not to mention, kennel and me. I've included some the local boys you send to get the job done. sores from hard surfaces just pictures of me at work and off of me, He also keeps me looking and aren't attractive. I'd love a play. If you have the opportu- smelling great with the groom- doggy bed that would get me nity when I get back home LOL.” ing stuff you send me. The up off the ground a little. stop by and see me some time. FURminator is the BEST!!! I'm sure dad can arrange it. And the wild cherry shampoo, I love toys as well. Regular well I can barely keep the local tennis balls last longer than the boys off of me, lol. Like any pet store kind, even if they say Lucy lady, I love to look good. "tuff" on them, I usually crush them pretty fast. Anything I'd like to thank you all for Kong brand is nice. If anyone the collar I just received. The from "Kong" is reading Scott loved the collar we sent to Lucy and the new T-shirt he got. He spent some of his free time between missions doing some creative work in Photo- shop of Lucy and one of the vehicles in their compound. Lucy and Scott taking a break MWDTSA KENNEL TALK Volume 2, Issue 2 Pa ge 3 www.mwdtsa.org Military Dog Handler Day with Governor Perdue by Dixie Whitman Military Dog Handlers from various military installations across Georgia join Governor Sonny Perdue at a signing ceremony in the Georgia capitol building which proclaimed March 25, 2010 as Military Dog Handler Day in Geor- gia. This is the 9th year with such a designation. Handlers were honored at a luncheon following the event. Twenty-nine active duty four branches of service During the luncheon, a plaque Please enjoy the following MWD handlers and one vet- that have installations in honoring Rico, MWDTSA’s pages with a few additional eran MWD handler joined Georgia. Wero (Army), 2009 Hero Dog, was presented photos of the moments dur- Governor Sonny Perdue in Donja (Navy), Rico (Air to his handler, SSgt Phillip ing the day. the Georgia Capitol on Force) and Cindy (Marines). Mendoza III from Moody It was truly a marvelous day March 25, 2010 to sign a These K9 representatives AFB. A plaque was also pre- and a blessing to be in the document proclaiming that were all so impressive in sented to Ken Besecker, co- company of such remarkable date as Military Dog Handler their calm demeanor and founder and first Secretary/ men and dogs. Day in Georgia. The procla- charmed us all.; it was easy Treasurer of MWDTSA for his mation outlines the role that to fall in love. years of service. Thanks to all who took pre- cious time from their ken- dogs have played in fighting After the signing at the capi- Also having a photo opportu- wars, terrorism and drugs. It nels to attend. Almost to tol, handlers drove to a local nity with Governor Perdue was man, they have all served in also spotlights the role of cantina called Tin Lizzy’s the teenage volunteer, Court- Georgia military installations Iraq and/or Afghanistan for a luncheon of fresh ta- ney Griffin, who chose multiple times. Thanks from in training, supplying and cos and quesadillas. They MWDTSA as her conduit to honoring War Dogs. all of us for the dangerous were joined by members assist the dogs and handlers work you undertake to keep Joining the dog handlers and supporters of who are deployed in harm’s America safe. were dogs representing all MWDTSA .