Iraq

Man's best friend earns stripes in Iraq

BAGHDAD - 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 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.

Zaleski refused to address allegations that Army dogs have been used to intimidate inmates at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, where pictures of guards humiliating prisoners have sparked international outrage.

With violence escalating, the Army shipped vests for all of its dogs to Iraq about two weeks ago. War dogs in Afghanistan 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.

The tan and green camouflage vest covers Kastor's body, leaving only his head, neck and legs exposed.

Zaleski said no dogs have been killed in Iraq although several have suffered injuries to their paws while walking through debris or shattered glass.

On some missions the dogs are now equipped with padded boots to protect their paws from getting cut up.

"Someone just needs to come up with a helmet for dogs and we'd be good," quipped Zaleski.

Keeping the dogs safe is important.

The dogs are needed to sniff out explosives and their keen sense of hearing can detect insurgents near bases long before Army sentries hear them.

The U.S. Army has been using dogs since World War II. Hundreds were killed in Vietnam while on patrols or guarding bases.

The dogs were so effective in sniffing out bombs and contraband in Afghanistan and in keeping people out of U.S. bases that one warlord put a $10,000 bounty on the dogs, said Sgt. Herman Haynes of the 89th MP Battalion, who served in Afghanistan.

Training a dog costs about $50,000, Zaleski said, which is one reason why protecting them is critical.

Five years ago, dog vests weighed some 15 pounds and were too heavy to be practical in most situations. With new technology, vest are now about half that weight.

The vest are made of Kevlar and protect dogs from shrapnel and handgun bullets.

World and national headlines

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright