Military dogs deserve as much of a second chance in life as their human counterparts in return for the service they have rendered. This principle is what drives Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL who founded the Warrior Dog Foundation in Texas, to do what he does.
Handlers usually adopt working dogs who are at the end of their service; otherwise, the canines will most probably face euthanasia. This is where Ritland’s charitable foundation steps in.
The Warrior Dog Foundation rehabilitates military canines and either finds them suitable new homes or lets them continue living at the farm.
Many, if not all, of the dogs who come to Ritland, mostly through word of mouth, are experiencing the canine equivalent of PTSD. The dogs are nervous and on edge all the time, thinking that danger is just around the corner.
Some of the retired canines have become so aggressive because of their experiences that they begin attacking everybody. Others, meanwhile, retreat into their shells and refuse to do anything.
For Ritland, it’s “an honor and a pleasure” to give back to the military dogs as they’ve done so much for our country.
For instance, the thousands of American canines who participated in the Vietnam War saved approximately 10,000 lives due to their skills at scouting and sniffing out bombs, mines, and traps.
Ritland employs positive reinforcement to retrain the dogs on the farm. If one canine, for example, is triggered by specific sounds like that of a running military helicopter, they introduce the sound little by little in everyday activities and associate it with positive experiences, like playing or getting treats.
It’s also essential to recognize the working nature of these retired military dogs to help rehabilitate them. According to Ritland, the canines don’t need to go on holidays; what they need is to keep moving.
That’s why Ritland meticulously screens all potential adopters, who must spend hours with the dog in which they are interested.
One of the successful adopters is Bob Welch, who used to be a part of the US Air Force Veterinary Corps. He lives on a large cattle ranch near Ritland’s farm, and he’s caring for Rudy, a Belgian Malinois formerly from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The cattle ranch is the perfect place for Rudy, who spends all day working with Welch, whether it’s to fetch his daughter or inspect the livestock.
Welch fully understands Ritland’s program, saying that military dogs retain their passion for work all their life and thus need constant stimulation. He says he’s glad that he and his family are giving Rudy the proper outlets his high energy levels require.
Watch Rudy on a typical day with Welch in the video below:
Source: Inside Edition on YouTube
