War Dogs Have New Place to Heal

War dogs now have a place to recover. Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas opened a $15 million veterinary hospital—a “Walter Reed” for four-legged military personnel.

It offers advanced medical treatment for combat-wounded dogs. There are currently about 2500 dogs working with the military.

The base also trains war dogs for all branches of the military and the Transportation Security Administration.

Skills for war dogs, taught at the base include bomb detection and finding land mines and other explosives.

Just like their human partners, dogs injured during wartime receive emergency treatment on the battlefield. Those war dogs injured in Iraq or Afghanistan are flown to Germany for further care, and now they may also be flown to San Antonio for more advanced treatment.

The new hospital has operating rooms, digital radiography, CT scanning equipment, an intensive care unit and rehab rooms with an underwater treadmill and exercise balls for dogs, among other features. A behavioral specialist is also available nearby.