Americans observe National K-9 Veterans Day on March 13 to recognize the service and sacrifice of military and working dogs that have served alongside humans in combat, law enforcement and rescue operations.
The observance commemorates March 13, 1942, when the U.S. Army officially began training dogs for military use through the K-9 Corps. The program began during World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor spurred a civilian coalition called Dogs for Defense to recruit and train dogs for sentry duty and other wartime missions.
Early in the program, American families donated many of the dogs that became the first generation of military working dogs. Within a year, more than 1,800 trained dog teams were patrolling U.S. coastlines and supporting military operations. Over time, duties expanded from sentry work to roles such as scouts, messengers and mine-detection specialists; today they assist with explosives detection, tracking and search-and-rescue operations.
Several military dogs have become well known for their service, including Sgt. Stubby, Chips, Lex and Cairo. Military working dogs now serve in all branches of the armed forces and assist agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service, as well as police departments and border security units.
Supporters say the annual observance is a chance to reflect on the thousands of canine partners that have saved lives, protected troops and helped keep communities safe, and many retired dogs now receive ceremonies, medals and memorial services in recognition of their service.
