Military working dogs undergo rigorous training. They are taught to detect explosives, to sniff out drugs and to assist soldiers and police officers in some of the most dangerous situations in the world. Consequently, the bond formed between a handler and a dog is unique, a bond that surpasses that of mere pet and owner. When Staff Sgt. Angela Lowe started working with Szultan, a grumpy German shepherd with a bone-crushing bite, she knew the training would require a lot of time and patience. But once things clicked, their relationship solidified, and Lowe knew she could rely on Szultan. The constant wear and tear on her body from training dogs eventually forced Lowe to retire from the Air Force, but over the years, she never stopped thinking about Szultan, and when she got the call that the dog was being retired, she knew she had to find a way to bring him home. Unable to drive down to Joint Base Charleston to retrieve him, Lowe contacted Mission K9 Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rehoming military working dogs. As they have done for countless other dogs, Mission K9 cofounders Kristen Mauer and Louisa Kastner stepped in to reunite Szultan and Lowe. To learn more about Mission K9 Rescue and to support its work, go to missionk9rescue.org.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 War Dog
00:28 Military working dogs are trained to protect our country
00:52 It's important for handlers to mesh with their military dog
02:06 Medical retirement and leaving military dog behind
03:24 When handlers leave the military, they never know if they will see their dog again
04:35 Mission K9
06:21 Picking up Szultan the military dog
07:01 Handler reunites with war dog
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