However, the audience that gathered on February 7, 2005, to watch two U.S. Customs and Border Protection explosive detection canines run through a demonstration was not made up of tourists to Washington, D.C. The audience was made up of servicemen and women who had been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Photo Credit: Charles Csavossy

K-9 Alto and his handler stop for a visit with a military personnel and their families.

An idea

Twenty-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Autery enjoyed watching the canine handlers in Iraq. When he was injured in August 2004, he wondered what he was going to do with the rest of his life and he remembered those handlers. He contacted retired Marine Colonel William O’Brien, who is the Director of the Injured Marines and Sailors Initiative, about arranging for a canine demonstration at the Mologne House. Colonel O’Brien contacted another retired Marine, John Minnick, a Public Affairs officer at the Department of Homeland Security who introduced him to Secretary Ridge. Ridge said, “Make it happen,” so Kent Wager, a canine instructor at the CBP Canine Enforcement Training Center, did just that. He worked with Colonel O’Brien to have two explosive detection canines and four of the “S” litter puppies come to the Mologne House to do a demonstration for injured servicemen and women and their families.

Colonel O’Brien opened the demonstration by introducing the handlers and thanking them for coming to the Mologne House. He later described everyone staying at the Mologne House as, “My battle-tested troops, tempered by the love of their friends, family, and country.” He feels that these men and women have served their country admirably and it’s their country’s duty to help them get back on their feet.

CBP Canine Instructor Mike Merickel spent a short time talking about the canine program and then explained what the audience was about to see. “Skeet,” a four-year-old black Labrador retriever and his handler Canine Instructor Patrick Dowling ran the first demo. Skeet quickly found the three concealed items: detonator cord concealed in a laptop, dynamite concealed in a backpack, and dynamite taped to a person’s leg. It was explained that CBP’s explosive canine teams are the only explosive teams specifically trained to find explosives concealed on a passenger or pedestrian. This was in response to the potential terrorists boarding aircraft at the airport environment or coming across the border. “Alto,” a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his handler Canine Instructor Tim Spittler were next, and Alto also quickly found the concealed items.

After the demonstrations, the four puppies, born and raised at the Canine Enforcement Training Center, were brought in. Five-month-old Shane, Sammy, Sheba and Suspect were a real hit with everyone, especially the children. Lots of doggie kisses were handed out to children and adults alike.

Lance Corporal Autery, after watching the CBP canines, was more interested than ever in becoming a canine handler. He and Colonel O’Brien were invited to tour the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal, Va. EC

The Mologne House The Mologne House is short-term lodging—30 days—for wounded soldiers receiving outpatient treatment and for families of inpatients. The 199-room hotel opened in 1997 and was named for former Walter Reed Commander Major General Lewis A. Mologne. Mologne had a vision of a "haven for the families of service members when they are sent to Walter Reed for care." Mologne, an engineer, surgeon, teacher, and administrator, commanded Walter Reed from June 1983 until August 1988, when he retired from the Army after more than 30 years of military service. His reputation as a "soldier's general" was earned through his tireless efforts of improving the quality of life for soldiers stationed in this high-cost area.