Fall Reading 2013 Dogs of War

This is a wonderful introduction to the roles that Military Working Dogs (MWDs) have played in our history. There's Boots, the mercy dog who serves in the trenches of World War I. Boots and her owner Donnie assist a doctor by locating wounded soldiers that need to be brought back to the trenches for care. It even shows them participating in the Christmas "truce" of 1914. Then we meet Loki who is a sled dog with a team building airstrips and watching the coast for German U-Boats in Greenland during World War II. Military personnel used sleds and skis to travel in the snowy conditions Finally we read about Sheba, a patrol dog in Vietnam. These patrols were sent out to scout for booby traps and enemy forces. Of course, we also learn about their human partners and the war going on around them. The author's note gives more information about each war and the number of canine service members. (The part about dogs being classified as equipment and left behind in Vietnam made me very angry.) There is also a list of books, DVDs, and websites to turn to for more information. 

I would recommend this to readers who have an interest in military history or enjoy reading about dog heroes. You can visit the author's website

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be released for sale on October 29, 2013, but I found an advance copy and added it to the library this week.