More than 600 military dogs are currently serving, and on Remembrance Day, Animal Planet is honouring them with a special entitled “Glory Hounds.”
The dog’s sole purpose is to protect soldiers and innocent civilians, and these specialized dogs are all highly trained to do what no man or technology can. The military relies on the dogs’ keen canine sense of smell to sniff out, locate, and signal for explosive devices and to track insurgents. “Glory Hounds” is a groundbreaking special that offered Animal Planet’s filmmakers and embedded camera crews unprecedented access to MWD teams in some of the most volatile regions in Afghanistan. When Osama Bin Laden was killed, a military working dog was part of the team on the ground, working alongside his handler to help capture him. Upon gaining access, camera teams acquired specialized training before spending six weeks in Afghanistan embedded with these troops.
Dogs are said to be man’s best friend. In Afghanistan, dogs are best friends, partners, and comrades in arms; they’re also often the best defense against the Taliban’s weapon of choice – improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, hidden randomly in the sand. Because the MWDs are so adept at identifying these weapons before they explode, the dog teams have become one of the Taliban’s prime targets. While they’re providing invaluable intelligence, these dogs form unbreakable bonds with the handlers who train them. To their handlers, MWDs are not merely gear – they’re weapons with hearts, minds, and souls.
“Glory Hounds” will air on November 11th at 8pm.
