From Military.com:
“A Doghouse Like No Other:
Military Pooches May Soon Get Chemical Weapons Shelters”
(A military working dog awaits
the command to chase a suspect during a controlled-aggression training Feb. 9,
2021, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.)
It is "paw-sible" that
the Pentagon may soon fix a "ruff" problem for military working dogs
by creating portable shelters for them to shield against weapons of mass
destruction. Protective kennels for military canines to guard against chemical
and biological threats may soon be in the works, according to a research
solicitation proposal from the Department of Defense's Small Business
Innovation Research Program. "For certain critical missions demanding a
high degree of maneuverability and general readiness, it is highly desirable to
have innovative [military working dog] shelters with much lower logistical
requirements and convenience elements," the research solicitation said.
These portable, collapsible dog
shelters would come equipped with air filtration systems and temperature
controls to ensure the safety of the animals. They would also be light enough
to be carried by a single service member. Military working dogs are often the
first to enter situations where chemical and biological threats may be present
but are provided with little personal protective equipment compared to their
handlers. The creation of this easily transportable enclosure would be a major
step toward helping safeguard a soldier's best friend and a critical military
asset.
Some personal protective
equipment is already available for military canines -- from ear, eye and paw
protection to ballistic vests -- but these are often considered impractical
because of the difficulties they create in performing duties, according to a
Pentagon-funded report from May through the University of Georgia College of
Veterinary Medicine. "Microbial pathogens, chemical toxins, and chemical
warfare agents all present significant risk of harm to both the handler and the
canine," the report said. It also highlighted that, while military working
dogs are often not the intended victim of an attack and are considered less
susceptible to disease produced by these agents, they deserve better protection
from exposure to contaminated environments. Another study from 2021 on
veterinary care for military working dogs found that heat-related injury is one
of the more serious conditions that may affect military working dogs, making
proper air circulation critical in the new kennels.
Canines have a long history of
being involved in warfare; the U.S. military began officially training dogs to
serve in its ranks during World War II. The health and safety of these
creatures has long been an important part of the military, especially for the
Army Veterinary Corps, the branch responsible for the welfare of military
animals. "As Veterinary Corps officers, we have to keep up our clinical
skills in order to provide care for military working dogs," Capt. Aaron
Judson, a veterinarian at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk
Veterinary Clinic in Louisiana, said in a press statement. "We have a
unique job; we provide a unique service to the Department of Defense because
the Army is the only branch with a Veterinary Corps," he continued.
There are approximately 2,500
active military working dogs in the field today, according to the University of
Georgia report. The DoD began accepting proposals for research and development
of these new protective kennels on May 18. Small business firms have until June
15 to submit a prospective project plan.
^ Hopefully the Military will get
these for their Working Dogs sooner rather than later. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.