Retired military dog faces euthanasia after 3 tours in Iraq

Retired military dog faces euthanasia after 3 tours in Iraq - HELP ROCKY

Pam D'Addio, Dog Rescue Examiner
August 17, 2011


Rocky put his life on the line during his three tours in Iraq as a military patrol and explosives dog, but if he doesn't find a home by August 24, 2011, he'll face euthanasia.

The brave German Shepherd entered the Marine Corps in 2004 and was based at Camp Pendleton. He traveled to Iraq as a service dog three times between 2004-2007 and returned to his base when his last handler was killed in theater. He continued to serve on the base until March of this year, but had no steady handler. In the past 5 months, Rocky was retired when he became unable to work due to a degenerative hip condition.

The kennels at Camp Pendleton are not equipped to provide the kind of care Rocky now needs and without someone who'll step up to adopt him he'll be put down. Retired military dogs are often adopted by their handlers, but losing his has left Rocky without that option. Military protocol doesn't permit Rocky to be surrendered to a shelter since he's a retired patrol dog and his only hope is to have his story touch someone's heart so they'll adopt him.
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