1st national monument for war dogs honors four-legged pup soldiers of World War II and beyond
Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc./ Associated Press ) - This undated publicity photo provided by John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc., shows the frontal view of the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. It is the first national monument ever to pay tribute to dogs and honors every dog who has served in combat since World War II.
The first national monument to pay tribute to military dogs will be unveiled in California in just two months. The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument will honor every dog that has served in combat since World War II.
In 2000, John Burnam, a 65-year-old veteran military dog handler, wrote a book called “Dog Tags of Courage.” A year later, he got an email from a reader wondering why there were no national monuments to the dogs of war.
In “Dog Tags” and a 2008 book, “A Soldier’s Best Friend,” Burnam wrote about his time with the Army’s 44th Scout Dog Platoon when he was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.
His first dog, Timber, was injured in an ambush a few months after they teamed up, so he spent most of his tour with a German shepherd named Clipper.
“He saved my life and saved the lives of others by alerting on ambushes, snipers and booby traps. I wanted to give something back to these animals that have done so much and asked for so little, except for food and water and the love of their handlers,” said Burnam, who received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Back then, handlers were not able to adopt their dogs when they were retired.
“I always worried about them but I know they died over there and they died as heroes,” he said.
In 2004, Burnam and two other dog handler veterans pursued the idea in earnest, forming the John Burnam Monument Foundation Inc. But it took two more years, until he met Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., that the monument project started to take shape.
In 2007, Jones introduced legislation authorizing establishment of the monument. Passed unanimously by Congress, it was signed the next year by President George W. Bush, then amended and signed by President Barack Obama.
Burnam designed the monument, which depicts the modern military handler and four dogs — a Doberman, German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Belgian Malinois, all breeds used in wars.
The silicon bronze handler stands more than 9 feet tall and weighs 1,500 pounds. Each dog is about 5 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds. Burnam called them “hero-sized.”
The figures will stand on a pedestal, in front of a large granite wall. One side of the wall will have photos etched in black marble veneer showing dog teams in combat from the different wars. The other side will have an inscription written by Burnam.
The sculptor, Paula Slater, said it was the largest and most complex monument she had ever done. She worked for thousands of hours, saying that finishing a project of that size “is like giving birth to a baby — five of them.”
The money for the monument came slowly. Burnam made one of many fundraising pitches on the reality TV show “Who Let the Dogs Out,” featuring Tillman, the skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding bulldog. The president of Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc., the company that Tillman represents, attended the show taping and volunteered to pitch in more than $1 million.
“Don’t do a thing. Natural Balance and Petco (Animal Supplies Inc.) will take care of it,” Joey Herrick said. To raise funds for the monument and its maintenance, Natural Balance created a jerky bark treat sold by Petco. Maddie’s Fund, a family-funded pet rescue foundation, also signed on as a corporate sponsor.
The public will get a sneak peak of the monument at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1, when a floral replica will be used as Natural Balance’s float. Burnam, dogs and handlers from every military service branch will ride on it.
When the float goes on display afterward at Victory Park, the real bronze monument will make its public debut next to it, Herrick said. Then the bronze monument will go on tour as it heads to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The location was chosen as the site for the monument because that’s where most of the nation’s military’s dogs are trained.
Meanwhile, Tillman, the dog that helped get Burnam the monument funding, is also getting personal recognition for his military service. For his work entertaining troops at bases and for going through a mini Marine boot camp, the athletic bulldog has been made an honorary private 1st class.
Who
ever thought that playing fetch with your dog might actually cause
harm? I know I didn't! Playing fetch isn't going to harm your dog but
what you use to play fetch with just might. If you play fetch with a
stick, the stick may splinter when be retrieved by your dog. These
splinters can come off and scrape your dog's esophagus, stomach, and
intestines.
Dogs
like anything that is chewy. Chewing on things is a natural way for
dogs to clean their teeth. So that means they will chew on anything. If
you have young daughters in your house, please remind them to pick up
after themselves especially their hair ties.
What
dog doesn't like to chew on a bone? Almost all do! Bones aren't bad for
you dog unless they do not chew them up into small enough pieces.
Never
in a million years would I have thought about a dog swallowing a corn
cob, but hey anything can happen. This isn't a concern for all dog
owners, just the ones that live on a farm or in a rural area.
Just
a word of caution, make sure that your dog's chew toys do not have any
little attachments or adornments on them. Most of the time is something
is swallowed that is chew toy related it is usually the little bells or
ball parts of the toy.
If
it is round, you better watch out! Pets, especially dogs, have a
tendency to like to chew on and swallow anything round. So make sure
those tennis balls, golf balls, or your child's red bouncy balls are
always out of reach.
I
haven't seen many dogs that haven't ever chewed on rocks. What a great
work out for those jaw muscles! On many occasions, dogs while
accidentally swallow a rock, sometimes even more.
Just
because something is fun to chew on, doesn't mean it is good for your
dog. Panty hose have a unique texture that will appeal to your canine.
Dog's just can't seem to pass these up.
What
does every household with dogs need? A reliable clothes hamper. Yes, a
clothes hamper. Dogs are curious creatures and have an insatiable urge
to chew especially when they are young.
Socks
and dogs go hand in hand like milk and cookies. What is the easiest
thing to make into a ball and play a game of fetch with inside the
house? A SOCK!
