War Dogs of the World

Four paws. One mission.

BY REBECCA FRANKEL | APRIL 27, 2012

Year of the War Dog

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It was just one year ago that the world first heard of Cairo, the dog who joined the mission that took down the world's most hunted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. The news sparked something of a sensation, and while Cairo might be the world's best-known war dog, he's far from a lone fighting force. The world of combat canines is vast, with a long and rich history, and these dogs have footholds on war fronts where you'd least expect to find them. From patrolling Moscow's train stations to thwarting insurgent ambushes in Afghanistan to guarding the borders of the West Bank to serving on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's private security detail, war dogs are essential to many of the world's most elite units, detecting bombs, detaining enemies, and saving lives.

 

Rebecca Frankel is a writer living in Washington, D.C. She is currently working on a book about canines in combat and writes a weekly feature on military working dogs for The Best Defense.