Episode Description
This Veterans' Day, join us for a moving episode about America’s four-legged warriors—military working dogs, or MWDs. These unsung heroes serve on the frontlines of combat zones around the world, but the challenges they face extend beyond the battlefield and into retirement. In this episode, Bob Bryant, co-founder and vice president of Mission K9, and US Navy Veteran Elijah Holyfield speak with co-hosts Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark about the duties, sacrifices, and unmet needs of today’s MWDs.
Helpful Links
Learn more about Mission K9: https://missionk9rescue.org/, and follow the organization on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionK9/
Learn more about The Ddamien Project, a partner organization of Mission K9 that specializes in caring for retired MWDs who aren't suited to be adopted out to the public due to behavioral or medical challenges: https://www.ddamienproject.org/
Read more about the unique roles working dogs play in our lives: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/celebrating-humans-best-friendship/
Learn more about military working dogs from the Department of Defense and the Association of the United States Army.
Find the full text of the proposed Honoring Our K9 Heroes Act: https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/_cache/files/e/4/e462d2d5-5f20-43f7-8973-b192ebdd09d7/7AF5380674B8629CDEA00BAFAE044AB4.honoring-our-k9-heroes-act.pdf
Show Notes
00:00 – Behind the Episode
02:34 – Introducing Bob Bryant and Mission K9
05:27 – What is a Working Dog?
08:32 – “Fur Missiles” with Elijah Holyfield, a US Navy Veteran
09:46 – The DoD Military Working Dog (MWD) Breeding Program
12:11 – Do Dogs Get PTSD?
15:04 – The Five R’s of Mission K9: Rescue, Reunite, Rehome, Rehabilitate, and Repair
20:05 – The Plight of Contract Working Dogs
23:21 – Carefully Pairing MWDs with Their Forever Homes
27:08 – The Ddamien Project
28:28 – Happy Endings for More Than 1,300 Dogs
29:19 – Life After Deployment
30:15 – Celebrating Happy Endings
31:49 – “Navy, Seek!”
34:17 – Supporting Canine Veterans After Service
38:18 – Stress Testing and Hot-Loading
40:13 – Long-Term for Mission K9
42:49 – How to Support Mission K9 Now and In the Future
44:10 – Conclusion and Farewell