FRANCE In France, they're known as chiens du guerre, and these military working dogs make up the 132e Bataillon Cynophile de L'Armee de Terre, a regiment that services three branches: Army, Air Force, and Marines. The program is based out of Suippes, France, with the basic mission to "train an inseparable man-dog duo to provide specialized support to all infantry units," according to the French military. Each year, the battalion adds roughly 250 new dogs to its ranks.
The most recent war-dog news to come out of France's canine command is the unfortunate death of Fitas, a Belgian Malinois who became famous after for his heroics in Afghanistan. On April 12, 2011, he interrupted an ambush and held the intruders at bay while alerting French troops to the danger. Unfortunately, he was captured and then held captive by the Taliban for months before finally returning to his unit in August 2011. According to the French Army's Facebook page, Fitas succumbed to illness on April 17.
Above, French soldiers prepare their sniffer dog to search an underground tunnel for explosives caches during an exercise on Oct. 5, 2010, in Angers, France.
FRANK PERRY/AFP/Getty Images
