Help Send Cooling Vests to MWDs in Iraq The
military only provides the basics for Military Working Dogs (MWDs)
stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan where temperatures can soar up to 145 degrees. When
the dogs are hot, they tire quickly and their ability to detect
explosives and other dangers is greatly reduced.
Please help by making a donation below.
ChillyDog Vests sent
to Iraq so far
thanks to your support:
349 Cooling Vests Donated!
"These vests will be a great help to the MWDs in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The vest allows the dogs to work longer with fewer rest
cycles thus protecting more Soldiers. This cooling vest saves lives because
our K-9s are able to work longer with less stress and are able to locate
more IEDs. Please thank your supporters
for all of us." - Senior MWD Program Manager, US Army
========================
"Please
let everyone know that it is so great to have these vests. There are still many dogs here without them."
====================== “Mom, I am and we (soldiers)
are all right. It’s the dogs that are really in need. It is so hot that
they are having trouble doing their job and that puts all of us in
danger.” [temperatures range from 100 to 140 degrees] The few that are
sent by the military are only sent with large deployment units of dogs
and soldiers. In this instance, these dogs have been sent in a few at a
time as the area has been found to contain many insurgents and they need
the dogs help.
What do these military dogs do? Two of them are combat stress dogs in
the field for the soldiers. Here in Dayton we would call this the work
of Therapy Dogs. When a soldier is wounded or killed these dogs help the
soldiers deal with the stress and emotions of their loss. The other 13
dogs search for bombs, search vehicles for anything that might cause
harm, do search and rescue when bombs explode, and perhaps most
important of all they are goodwill ambassadors. The Iraqi people, and
children especially, are told the United States is bad and the soldiers
are often hated. The dogs help to change that conception by greeting the
children and giving the soldiers a chance to show we are there for their
benefit. - A Helicopter Pilot stationed near Mozul
MWDs in ChillyDog Cooling Vests and the loot they
found.
Do you know a handler that needs a vest? Email
me and we will help.
From Petey's Mom:
We are targeting soldiers who need our help the most. A lot of people ask
me why the military doesn't buy these vests for the dogs. When I have asked this
question, I was told that the dogs that deploy with a large units are pretty
well equipped, but that many, many dogs are assigned independent of a large unit
and its budgetary support. These are the guys we are targeting - the guys who
truly need our support. I think that within a few years, the military will
start buying these vests in bulk, but until then, this is the only way they will
get the relief they need to better protect our treasures. - Petey's Mom
Cost
of the vests: Vests are $129 ea. and we like to send an extra
set of packs that are $99 each. That way, the soldier can have a freshly
charged pack with him on missions that last more than 2-3 hours, keeping the dog
safe from heat stress.
There are 2 ways/options to donate:
If you prefer to send a check,
please make it payable to Helping Udders, 1401 N Merchant St, Belle Plaine, KS 67013 and send your email address please.
Thank you very much for your donation to our MWD
section. The pictures attached are of the dog team that will be
utilizing the cooling vest for six months overseas. Again we appreciate
the time you took to ensure our teams are properly taken care of.
V/R
ALONZO A. IVEY, SSgt, USAF
355 SFS/S3D MWD Trainer
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
If you prefer to send a check,
please make it payable to Helping Udders, 1401 N Merchant St, Belle Plaine, KS 67013 and send your email address please.
This is MWD
Tino - assigned to SSgt Jarred Johnson at Joint Base Balad - Iraq (vest
donated through Old Dawgs & Pups)
This is MWD Eddy - assigned to SrA Eric
Vega at Joint Base Balad - Iraq (vest
donated through Old Dawgs & Pups)
