The Abuse Of Dogs For Military Ends

Alan: The following letter was written by friend, Patrick O'Neill, co-founder of The Catholic Worker House in Garner, North Carolina. Patrick also writes for The National Catholic Reporter and The Independent Weekly, a fine newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina. www.IndyWeek.com
In civilian life, people are imprisoned for this sort of abuse.

Letters to the Editor for Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013

Fayetteville Observer

Using dogs in war

Dogs may be man's best friend, but man is sure not dog's best friend. Let's get something straight: Exposing dogs to the trauma and horror of war is plain and simple animal abuse.

Dogs will happily befriend anyone who cares for them; if it were possible for dogs to weigh in on the combat option, no canine would sign up.

In order for dogs to be chosen for war duty, the military looks for breeds with "gameness," a term used to describe dogs "having the desire to continue even when faced with extreme fear or danger." Ironically, gameness is also a term used in dog-fighting, which is a crime and can land those who practice such abuse in jail and prison. Doing the same thing in the name of war is viewed as a noble and righteous (ab)use of animals. How tragic.

In the dedication of the so-called war dog memorial at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, it was reported that 58 dogs had been killed in wars. I'm not surprised; wars have killed millions of human beings and other living things. War is a contagion upon humanity - and upon dogs, too.

Patrick O'Neill, Garner