Canine fair honors military, working dogs in Fayetteville

Helen’s jaw opened and closed around an arm of someone she perceived to be a “bad guy” Saturday at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville. Helen is one the military working dogs with the 550th Military Working Dog Detachment, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade that is based on Fort Bragg.

She and canine Diana, who are dual purpose explosive and patrol dogs, are trained to attack with or without command, handlers said,  but not trained to maul.

The canines demonstrated their capabilities Saturday for the museum’s K9 Veterans Day Fair.

“Being that there's not a lot of canine specific memorial or appreciation days and events we jumped at the opportunity to participate and show some appreciation the dogs, and at the same time show off the capabilities of what our dogs can do,” said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Davis, who is with the 550th Military Working Dog Detachment.

Coinciding with K9 Veterans Day on Wednesday and a new exhibit at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, the fair was held at the museum and hosted by the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation that supports the museum, organizers said.

The U.S. Army started its new war dog program, or K9 Corps, on March 13, 1942, said Liz Mileshko, executive director of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation. National K9 Veterans Day is held each year to honor canines who earn their own awards and medals and have their own retirement ceremonies.

“So we’re celebrating them today, their service, the duty that they paid in this country and the fact that they lay their lives on the ground everyday," she said, "just like our men and women in the military do.”

Saturday was the first time the museum hosted an event for the canines, which was held in  conjunction with a new wounded warrior dog exhibit by Ohio-based artist James Mellick that is a tribute to the dogs. The exhibit will be at the museum, 100 Bragg Blvd.,  through April 21.

Speaking at Saturday’s ceremony,  Mellick shared conversations he had with Vietnam veterans and the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association when starting the project. One of those conversations was in 2015 with a veteran named Bill,  who was forced to leave his canine partner behind in Vietnam.

Bill told Mellick the canine was the only battle buddy he had when dropped off in the middle of nowhere.

“‘All we had was each other,’” Mellick said of what Bill told him, and that Bill didn’t know what happened to his canine partner.

Others shared how the forced separation made emotional pain worse, as they arrived back home and felt as forsaken as their canine partners.

Mellick said he’s met another veteran who remembered a Belgian Malinois’ partnership with the SEAL Team Six that worked to apprehend Osama bin Laden.

‘“That dog will defend me until I die,’” Melick said of what the veteran told him.

Attending Saturday’s ceremony were Fayetteville residents Lissette and Hector Vargas and their 6-year-old Bulldog Diesel, who wore a red cape with the word “boss.”

Hector Vargas has been in the Army for 14 years and said he supports military canines and that there is a Veterans K9 Day.

“They should (have their own day) automatically," he said. "Why not? They’re in there with us, too, so of course I support it 100 percent.”

Mileshko said Saturday’s event, which the Pelizzon Family Fund was a main sponsor of along with others, also provided the opportunity for members of the community to see military and police working dogs, visit dog-related vendors and adoption groups and to bring their own pets to the event.

Davis told those in attendance that military canines such as Helen and Diana go through their own basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, which is a 120 day process.

Soldiers are trained as handlers for 12 weeks.

Sharing information about obedience training for the general public’s pets was James Voyatzis, who owns Cameron, North Carolina-based Sitzen K9.

Sitzen K9 has trained a few detection dogs and certified Americans with Disabilities Act complaint service dogs, but also teaches obedience, Voyatzis said.

Mileshko said there are plans to host another K9 Veterans Dog Day Fair next year.

“Who doesn’t love the excuse to bring their dog down to the ASOM," she said, "and have a family fun filled day.”

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.