DI Rescues Mine-Detecting Dogs in Afghanistan
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Mar. 12, 2007DynCorp International employees helped rescue more than two dozen German shepherds and Belgian Malinois that were recently retired after working in Afghanistan detecting mines.
The dogs belonged to the Mine Dog Center, an Afghan de-mining nongovernmental organization (NGO) that is supported and advised by DynCorp International (DI) in mine-clearing operations sponsored by the United States Department of State and the government of Afghanistan.
After a certain number of years, a dog's sense of smell is no longer reliable enough to allow it to perform mine-clearance operations. Since people in Afghanistan do not generally keep dogs as pets, dogs that are retired from mine-clearance operations have faced the prospect of euthanasia.
Lloyd Carpenter, a project manager for DynCorp International in the Department of State's Weapons Removal and Abatement Program in Afghanistan, saved the latest group of retired dogs from euthanasia by placing them with expatriates in the country with the understanding that the new owners would take the dogs home with them when they depart Afghanistan.
"The dogs performed a humanitarian service to clear landmines so that humans wouldn't lose life or limb. The companies that work with them should help get the dogs adopted and find a family to live out the rest of their lives with, and reward the dogs for their service and loyalty," said Mr. Carpenter.
This is the second group of mine-detection dogs DynCorp International employees have assisted. In 2006, DynCorp International technical advisors re-trained 18 mine dogs into other specialties.
This year, DynCorp International, the Mine Dog Center, and the UN Mine Action Center - Afghanistan worked together to organize a three-day campaign in early March to find people willing to adopt the dogs. The response was overwhelming, and there is now a waiting list of more than 500 willing adopters.
Even though there are plenty of volunteers for the adoption of retired dogs, there are ways that concerned people may still help. Mr. Carpenter recommends that people who would like to help provide new mine dogs to mine-affected countries worldwide may make a tax-deductable donation to the Marshall Legacy Institute. Information about the Marshall Legacy Institute and their efforts to donate mine-detection dogs can be found on their website at http://www.marshall-legacy.org.
About DynCorp International
DynCorp International LLC is a provider of specialized mission-critical technical services to civilian and military government agencies worldwide, and operates major programs in law enforcement training and support, security services, base operations, aviation services, contingency operations, and logistics support. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., DynCorp International has approximately 14,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.dyn-intl.com.
