Rebecca's War Dog of the Week: Running for the dogs in Bagram

By Rebecca Frankel

Best Defense Chief Canine
Correspondent

In the still-dark of a cold
and foggy-wet December morning with temperatures hovering just above freezing, more
than 400 servicemen and women gathered at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to
participate in a 5K-run. They didn't do it for PT or to raise funds for a cause
or even to boost morale (though I'm sure it provided amply on that front). They
were instead offering a show of solidarity and appreciation for the Military Working
Dogs who have made a deep and lasting impression there.

I spoke with the run's
organizers, Sgt. Alyssa Doughty, Capt. Katie Barry, and Spc. William Vidal who are part
of the 64th Medical Detachment
(Veterinary Services), early one morning last week. Our
connection was a poor one but even as the phone line to Bagram crackled and
echoed, one thing came through clear enough -- the force of feeling that fueled
this event.

"I've grown to love these
dogs more than I ever thought I would," Sgt. Doughty said. "Being in
Afghanistan of course is hard. You're away from your family in an area that can
be dangerous and so distant from home. But it makes it so much more worth it
that I came here and got to work with [these dogs] and truly see what they
actually do. It makes me appreciate them even more and want to fight for them
to be considered actual soldiers."

A big part of the team's
job is regularly working with the canines and their handlers, from day-to-day medical
necessities like keeping the dogs well hydrated and ensuring their paws are
protected from the rocky terrain. But they also deal with the worst casualties of
down-range dangers like gunfights and explosions.

"Here at Bagram, we get a
lot of combat related injuries in the field," Barry said. "We work with a lot
of dogs that are in a lot of pain, we get a lot of the dogs that have passed
away."

[[BREAK]]

During our talk Barry,
Doughty, and Vidal relayed stories of some particularly remarkable dog, a
wounded canine charge that tolerated an arduous healing process with more
patience and sweetness than could reasonably be expected. (Case in point the
above photo of Spc. Vidal holding Peggy, a MWD who lost the use of her legs for
no discernable reason. Through treatment Peggy is now well enough to be retired
and likely going to live with her handler.)

It's clear that the team
has bonded with the dogs and are committed to them in a way they perhaps weren't
before arriving in Afghanistan. "Before
I got here didn't know the capability of these working dogs," Vidal said. "Being
here and seeing them get injured completely changed my mind about who they are.
I kind of see them a little bit more valuable more than myself, really, all the
training they have and all the amazing capabilities they have. "

Raising the level of
awareness of MWDs' role in combat and the tremendous effect their service has,
was indeed the driving factor behind the December run. The event kicked off
with a presentation including a moving video compilation. Vidal, who compiled the footage, said he mostly used photos that they
had taken themselves so "it hit really close to us."

Though the run wasn't the
first this team put on it was the last for the 64th, at least for now. Both
Barry and Doughty returned home from Afghanistan this week after completing
their one-year tour. Vidal who joined them in July will stay on until his tour
is complete this summer. Whether or not the runs or the upkeep of the "Wall of
Honor" -- a tribute the team erected showcasing photos of MWDs and their
handlers -- carries on is entirely up to
their replacements, the members of the 72nd Medical Detachment (Veterinary
Services).

"We hope that they continue
to honor the dogs that have been injured or lost their lives in defense of
their country," Capt. Barry said.

And so do we.

Photos Courtesy of W. Vidal