A Soldier's Best Friend, Then and Now

By: Emma

I have always loved dogs, but while I have a dog just for companionship hundreds of soldiers around the world today use dogs not just as loyal friends, but also as brave animals that fight in war. Right now there are many dogs that fight in wars all around the world, but it turns out that more than 200 years ago, in the American Revolution, dogs played a huge part in that war as well. A lot has changed since the American Revolution, but It seems that the loyalty and bravery of dogs in battle have not.

The Revolutionary War started in 1775 and ended in 1783. When most people think of the Revolutionary War they think of battles like Valley Forge, The Boston Tea Party, and brave determined soldiers. I think that everyone should start remembering and honoring the brave dogs that fought tirelessly and selflessly  by the side of soldiers in the Revolutionary War. One of the first soldiers to use dogs in the Revolutionary War was  General George Washington. You may be surprised to learn that Washington was a prolific dog owner. Our first president and commander of the Revolutionaries was a lifelong dog owner, so when Washington went off to fight the Revolutionary War he brought along his beloved hound Sweetlips. George Washington was not the only one who was accompanied by his dog in war, many of Washington’s men also had dogs. Dogs were a very important part of a soldier’s life as they provided companionship in battle, protection against wild animals, and they could also help to hunt food.

The Continental Army was not the only army with dogs. Across the battlefield from the Revolutionaries the British Army also had dogs. At the Siege of Yorktown their was a large British Bulldog that chased the British cannonballs fired over the American trenches. One Soldier on the Continental army wrote “Our officers wished to catch him and oblige him to carry a message from them into the town to his masters, but he looked too formidable for any of us to encounter.” The bulldog might have done it’s job in scaring the rebels but eventually The Americans were victorious at Yorktown and ended the war.

Nowadays, dogs continue to be used  in wars. These war dogs have roles in the army that are nearly are varied as their ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War, but these dogs usually aren’t used in front-line formations. In 2011, 600 U.S. Military dogs were actively participating in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because these war dogs are not used on the front lines, the army has found other uses for them. Some of these dogs are used for law enforcement; they can inspect baggage, track and capture suspects, and viciously protect their handler. Other dogs are trained to detect drugs even if they are heavily concealed. Military dogs will continue to serve as trackers, search and rescue, scouts, and inspectors. After their time in the war many retired working dogs are often adopted as pets or therapy dogs.

I am in awe of the bravery and tenacity of these amazing military dogs. Dogs played a big part both in the Revolutionary War and wars today in Afghanistan and Iraq. That said,  I do not necessarily believe that war is the answer to conflict. Whenever possible I think that we should try to solve our problems through negotiation rather than violence. Although these war dogs are incredibly heroic in my eyes, I think we need to take these dogs and their soldiers out of the war and let them live peaceful happy lives. We owe that to them.