News Update
'Salute the Pooch': School raises money to send military dogs home
Kelsey Kruzich/Staff Photos - Fifth through eighth grade students at Prince of Peace Catholic School raised $2000 to bring home a retired military service dog through Military Working Dog Adoptions.
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com
Mike and Debbie Kandoll adopted their first military working dog the day he was scheduled to be euthanized.
Since then, the couple has dedicated their lives to bringing these canine soldiers home once they realized they were not getting much of a future after retirement.
"Nobody stepped forward to adopt him because nobody knew about him," said Mike, retired Air Force Reserve.
The Kandoll's efforts caught the eye of counselors and coaches at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Plano, where students raised more than $1,800 in January to send one of these retired military working dogs home to her handler in New Jersey.
Typically, the cost to send a working dog home from overseas is around $900 but, in this case, the dog's handler requested that he fly to Germany himself to retrieve his dog, Nouska, and accompany her back home. Nouska had been deployed to Iraq three times and, like any other soldier, was ready to come home.
"There are a lot of things that are not being done for military working dogs," Debbie said. "We currently have legislation in the [U.S.] Senate and in the House, so dogs like Nouska will actually be able to get on a military aircraft when they retire and come back home."
The Kandolls formed Military Working Dog Adoptions in 2008. Like equipment, most military working dogs serving overseas are usually euthanized and quickly replaced with younger, newer versions.
The couple visited the school on Thursday to thank them for their support and to introduce them to Alex and Susy, two retired war dogs living out their remaining days in the comfort of the Kandoll home in Las Cruces, NM.
"Because of you, this dog that preserved our freedom, saved numerous sold lives by doing explosives detections, finding IEDs and weapons caches over in Iran, is now home," Debbie told the students during her presentation in the school's gymnasium. "She's loved and will go in peace and love and joy, not in a cold, dark kennel."
Prince of Peace's coach John Anthony said his students were eager to be a part of such a noble and unknown cause. The students raised the money through bake sales and a dodge ball tournament and even came up with a catchy team name to coincide with their cause: Salute the Pooch.
"One of the first things the students asked me was if we could make [Nouska] our mascot," said Anthony, who came up with the idea of raising funds for the organization after finding its website online. "I couldn't be more proud of them. They did a great job and they ran with it. They understand that it's a soldier they're helping."
Most military dogs begin their training at about 2 years old and near retirement anywhere between 10 and 12 years old, depending on their health. Since 2008, the Kandoll's have been able to help more than 20 dogs come home. The organization also offers other services to help those who adopt one of these wartime veterans.
"A lot of times people who have adopted these dogs have paid so much for their veterinary care that they don't have the money to get their remains," Debbie said. "We'll even pay for the euthanasia and the remains, the dog paw print, anything to honor these dogs and give them the honor and respect that they've earned by a lifetime of service."
Nouska would have been euthanized because there was nobody who wanted her, except for her former handler, who is currently unemployed and living off of the GI Bill while he finishes college, Debbie said. However, retired military working dogs are highly intelligent and make great pets for someone who is willing to work with them and give them the love and attention they need, she said.
Alex, for example, now works with wounded warriors as a therapy dog. In addition to explosives and narcotics detections, these dogs have also proven very effective for helping people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
"Dogs don't ask for much," she said. "All it takes is one person to care and to get other people interested in caring."
For information on how to adopt a retired military dog or to contribute to the Kandoll's organization, visit www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com.
Since then, the couple has dedicated their lives to bringing these canine soldiers home once they realized they were not getting much of a future after retirement.
"Nobody stepped forward to adopt him because nobody knew about him," said Mike, retired Air Force Reserve.
The Kandoll's efforts caught the eye of counselors and coaches at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Plano, where students raised more than $1,800 in January to send one of these retired military working dogs home to her handler in New Jersey.
Typically, the cost to send a working dog home from overseas is around $900 but, in this case, the dog's handler requested that he fly to Germany himself to retrieve his dog, Nouska, and accompany her back home. Nouska had been deployed to Iraq three times and, like any other soldier, was ready to come home.
"There are a lot of things that are not being done for military working dogs," Debbie said. "We currently have legislation in the [U.S.] Senate and in the House, so dogs like Nouska will actually be able to get on a military aircraft when they retire and come back home."
The Kandolls formed Military Working Dog Adoptions in 2008. Like equipment, most military working dogs serving overseas are usually euthanized and quickly replaced with younger, newer versions.
The couple visited the school on Thursday to thank them for their support and to introduce them to Alex and Susy, two retired war dogs living out their remaining days in the comfort of the Kandoll home in Las Cruces, NM.
"Because of you, this dog that preserved our freedom, saved numerous sold lives by doing explosives detections, finding IEDs and weapons caches over in Iran, is now home," Debbie told the students during her presentation in the school's gymnasium. "She's loved and will go in peace and love and joy, not in a cold, dark kennel."
Prince of Peace's coach John Anthony said his students were eager to be a part of such a noble and unknown cause. The students raised the money through bake sales and a dodge ball tournament and even came up with a catchy team name to coincide with their cause: Salute the Pooch.
"One of the first things the students asked me was if we could make [Nouska] our mascot," said Anthony, who came up with the idea of raising funds for the organization after finding its website online. "I couldn't be more proud of them. They did a great job and they ran with it. They understand that it's a soldier they're helping."
Most military dogs begin their training at about 2 years old and near retirement anywhere between 10 and 12 years old, depending on their health. Since 2008, the Kandoll's have been able to help more than 20 dogs come home. The organization also offers other services to help those who adopt one of these wartime veterans.
"A lot of times people who have adopted these dogs have paid so much for their veterinary care that they don't have the money to get their remains," Debbie said. "We'll even pay for the euthanasia and the remains, the dog paw print, anything to honor these dogs and give them the honor and respect that they've earned by a lifetime of service."
Nouska would have been euthanized because there was nobody who wanted her, except for her former handler, who is currently unemployed and living off of the GI Bill while he finishes college, Debbie said. However, retired military working dogs are highly intelligent and make great pets for someone who is willing to work with them and give them the love and attention they need, she said.
Alex, for example, now works with wounded warriors as a therapy dog. In addition to explosives and narcotics detections, these dogs have also proven very effective for helping people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
"Dogs don't ask for much," she said. "All it takes is one person to care and to get other people interested in caring."
For information on how to adopt a retired military dog or to contribute to the Kandoll's organization, visit www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com.
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