U.S. Military Dogs Get Bulletproof Vests [View All]

U.S. Military Dogs Get Bulletproof Vests

Mon May 10, 2:18 AM ET

By LOUIS MEIXLER, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - On dangerous missions, Sgt. Darren Smith straps a bulletproof vest around the furry chest of his partner, a bomb sniffing dog named Kastor.


Patrols and checkpoints in Iraq (news - web sites) have become so risky that the U.S. Army is issuing bulletproof vests, not just to its soldiers, but also to bomb sniffing dogs to protect them too from roadside bombs and drive-by shootings.


"We need to protect our dogs just like we protect our people," said Staff Sgt. Jarrod Zaleski, the Army kennel master in Iraq. "This is still considered a war situation."


The U.S. Army has some 30 dogs in Iraq, guarding bases and checking cars for explosives. Zaleski says the dogs have uncovered car bombs and have such sensitive noses that one was able to smell an ammunition clip in a woman's pocketbook.


With violence escalating, the Army shipped vests for all of its dogs to Iraq about two weeks ago. War dogs in Afghanistan (news - web sites) already have the vests. Soldiers have worn vests since the start of the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.


"Anything we can do to keep him safe is well worth it," said Smith, a military policeman who searches buildings and works at checkpoints with Kastor, a red and yellow Belgian Malinois, a dog that looks like a small German Shepherd.


Smith and Kastor man checkpoints near the U.S. headquarters in Baghdad and sometimes are sent out to other areas of Baghdad that are potentially more dangerous. For security reasons, Smith would not say when he puts the vest of Kastor.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_dogs_of_war&cid=540&ncid=1473