Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Cpl. Timothy Wolff, with Multi National Division - Baghdad's Provost Marshal Office,...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The explosives were expertly placed under the engine of the truck, just past the front bumper.
It was impossible to be seen from the street and yet in seconds Sara found all three sticks.
Sara, a special search dog, along with several other military working dogs with their handlers of Multi National Division — Baghdad's Provost Marshal Office, put on a demonstration for Iraqi Federal Police at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Nov. 25.
The dogs searched for hidden explosives, restrained suspects and performed other basic tasks they routinely execute in the field.
"A dog like that can solve a lot of problems," said Maj. Hussien Jabbar, of the 1st Mechanized Brigade Iraqi Federal Police.
For the first demonstration, one of several cars parked along FOB Falcon's athletic field had hidden explosives.
Sgt. Rashad Harris and Sara approached from more than 200 feet away. Sara, working several yards ahead, checked the wall boarding, the field and then approached the cars.
Sara was thorough and carefully checked the cars, front to rear. She sniffed along the vehicles, and soon stopped and stared intently at the front of a truck where the explosives were hidden.
Iraqi federal police observing the demonstration recognized how valuable the dogs were.
"We can tell headquarters how these dogs are used; they can search faster than any technology can," said Jabbar.
In the next scenario, Xanny, a patrol explosive detector dog, was to react to a suspect who was approaching in a non-threatening manner. Staff Sgt. William Morton, of Richmond, Va., Xanny's handler, ordered the suspect to halt and then return to him.
Xanny waited patiently for the command to control the suspect, who was wearing a special arm guard, preventing him from being hurt when the dog bit.
After refusing to comply with Morton's verbal orders, the suspect ran down the field.
On command, Xanny chased and latched onto the arm of the suspect, preventing him from running. Xanny then released the arm on command and returned to Morton.
"I wish we had dogs like that," said Jabbar.
"All you have to do is ask; we will support your mission," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Jasper, of Lawton, Okla.
Other demonstrations highlighted the dog's abilities to follow the commands of the handler, such as: following alongside the handler, holding in a set position or stopping from a dead run instantly.
The Iraqi federal police appreciated the versatility of the dogs and acknowledged they could do much to help them on missions against criminals and terrorists.
"In the field technology can fail, a dog never goes wrong, never needs batteries," said Jabbar.
| Date Taken: | 11.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.29.2009 06:41 |
| Story ID: | 42121 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 11,112 |
| Downloads: | 11,083 |
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