We have just celebrated Memorial Day….a day when we say thank you to all those that gave their lives in service of their country…….but there are some that have been neglected in our rush to honor fallen heroes…….

Those heroes are the canine counter parts to the American soldier….they are used from guard duty to bomb sniffing to tracking…..and they have served as honorably as any human and they have done it without promise of reward of some sort; they have served because they enjoy the comradeship……and how are they repaid for the loyalty and service?

They are left abandoned in the war zone or they are put to death.  A fine reward for serving without question….but what you expect from a country that treats its vets as game pieces in a political game?

ABC has a very good report…..

Officially, dogs that serve with U.S. soldiersare labeled “surplus equipment,” but they are so much more to the soldiers they help on the battlefield.”They’ve [known] heavy training, combat, gunfire, explosions and just like a human, you should retire at some point and live a more peaceful life, and that’s what these dogs need,” Ron Aiello, president of the U.S. War Dogs Association, told ABC News. “They only have two, three years remaining in their life, and I think they should live it with a loving family and in a peaceful atmosphere.”

Find out more about adopting a military dog.

“Dogs have been fighting with U.S. soldiers for centuries … unofficially in the Civil War, and then officially inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942 for World War II,” Rebecca Frankel, deputy managing editor of foreignpolicy.com, who writes “War Dog of the Week“, told ABC News.

Only 204 of the estimated 4,900 dogs that were employed by the U.S military in the Vietnam War returned to the United States, according to military dog organizations. The ones that didn’t make it back were euthanized, abandoned or given away to the South Vietnamese army.  (Now there was a favor….the Viets probably had them for lunch)…..

Last year, 338 dogs were adopted by families, police departments and other governmental agencies — a fitting retirement for man’s best friend, who has proved he can also be a nation’s best friend.

It is truly sad that an animal serving in the US military, whether canine or human, could be treated with such disrespect…….but NOT surprising….this country has been disrespecting those who served for a generation or more…….Is it NOT time to change all that disrespect?  If your answer is yes…..then do something about it!