AUSTRALIA Australia's been using war dogs since 1943, when they were trained as "savage guard dogs" to protect aircraft, according to the Australian Air Force. Now, Australian dogs go on missions at home and abroad, mostly of two breeds-German shepherds and Belgian Malinois. The Air Force has its own breeding program, but often procures dogs from private dealers and even takes donated canines. But Australia's military may have found a new way to surge its four-legged troops-cloning. According to the Herald Sun, the Ozzies could have their first cloned canine unit as early as 2013.
Australia's most famous military dog might be Sarbi, the camera-friendly Labrador-Newfoundland mix who, in 2008, went missing after her handler was wounded during a firefight in Afghanistan. She was declared MIA, but 14 months later a U.S. soldier spotted her and she was eventually reunited with her unit.
In this photo, Australian Army bomb-detecting dogs Sam and Jasmine-both retiring from service-are comforted at a ceremony for soldiers returning from Afghanistan at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney on Nov. 26, 2006.
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