GyBill
07-05-2005, 17:26
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Dog Barks at Death
by Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola
Marine Corps News
June 30, 2005
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - "This was a building search from hell," said Cpl. Ian R. Burns, a military dog handler from Farmingdale, Maine, and Station acting supervisor of the military working dog section.
On August 18, 2004, two improvised explosive devices laid-in-wait inside the floors beneath a group of Company F, 2nd battalion, 4th Regiment Marines who were deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. Detonating almost simultaneously, the bombs nearly felled the building, reducing the structure to a creaking funhouse of rebar, concrete and unseen danger.
According to reports, the door leading from the roof to the inside of the building was bowed in from the blast, locking the Marines on the wobbly roof with no way to escape. The building was supported by nothing more than some wire and a single pillar.
The job of helping to get the Marines out safely and sniffing out other potential bombs was placed on the shoulders of Burns and his now 5-year-old German shepherd, Cak. The pair charged into the unstable environment, worked together as a team and got their Marines out of harms way, adding another chapter to their story together.
The next chapter began in November 2004, when Burns and Cak returned from their deployment. Burns said that both he and Cak were happy in their own way: Burns, because he was home and away from mortal danger; Cak because he simply had air conditioning.
However, their joy in returning home would be somewhat short-lived.
Toward the end of April 2005, Burns and his fellow dog handlers noticed that Cak, who normally "eats like a madman" wasn't touching his food. Taking this a warning sign, Cak was watched closely.
The following day, during a provost marshal certification session, Burns witnessed Cak acting strangely; he had become lethargic and was unable to perform the certification exercises.
Burns gathered him up and brought him to the veterinarian, where Cak underwent a day-long battery of tests that included an abdomen exam and a sonogram in the maternity ward at the Camp Lejeune, N.C., Naval Hospital.
The results of these exams were inconclusive and Cak became the subject of exploratory surgery the following morning.
The surgery uncovered a "spleenic torsion," a condition where Cak's spleen virtually flipped over, swelling to five times its normal size, and killing itself along with the most of his pancreas, said Burns.
The prognosis for survival was bleak. Cak couldn't survive without an operational pancreas and the veterinarians weren't sure they could save him, said Burns.
"My heart sunk. I was in total shock and disbelief," said Burns. "He's my working dog, but he's also my best friend. He was the only one with me in Iraq; he's my boy."
"We were with him 24 hours a day for a week," added Cpl. Brooks Sanderson, a military dog handler and Pensacola, Fla., native. "He was near death. This was out of nowhere. No one knows the reason he was sick or why."
After his successful surgery to repair what was left of his pancreas, Cak continued to grow stronger each day and inch just a little farther away from death's doorstep.
"He's a high drive dog," explained Burns. "He wanted to get better and he had my support and the support of the other handlers."
During this time, Cak, just like all injured "devil dogs," went on light duty for over a month to heal from his surgery.
According to Burns and Sanderson, no one knew quite what to expect from Cak as he improved gradually. There remained unanswered questions as to his ability to come back to work after the severity of his condition, said Burns.
Cak would soon answer all questions, returning to duty shortly after and rejoining Burns on full active duty.
"He was good before, but he's even better now," said Burns. "He seems more focused today than he did before his surgery."
"His detection skills are better and he has a higher drive," added Sanderson.
Although Cak will never deploy again due to health concerns, he has earned a place on Station by his performance alone, said Burns.
"We're both a little goofy at times, but we're each unique and eccentric," said Burns. "It's been very rewarding to work with Cak, we're a good team."
For now, Cak and Burns will continue working together, healthy and always looking forward to adding another chapter in their story.
Dog Barks at Death
by Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola
Marine Corps News
June 30, 2005
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - "This was a building search from hell," said Cpl. Ian R. Burns, a military dog handler from Farmingdale, Maine, and Station acting supervisor of the military working dog section.
On August 18, 2004, two improvised explosive devices laid-in-wait inside the floors beneath a group of Company F, 2nd battalion, 4th Regiment Marines who were deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. Detonating almost simultaneously, the bombs nearly felled the building, reducing the structure to a creaking funhouse of rebar, concrete and unseen danger.
According to reports, the door leading from the roof to the inside of the building was bowed in from the blast, locking the Marines on the wobbly roof with no way to escape. The building was supported by nothing more than some wire and a single pillar.
The job of helping to get the Marines out safely and sniffing out other potential bombs was placed on the shoulders of Burns and his now 5-year-old German shepherd, Cak. The pair charged into the unstable environment, worked together as a team and got their Marines out of harms way, adding another chapter to their story together.
The next chapter began in November 2004, when Burns and Cak returned from their deployment. Burns said that both he and Cak were happy in their own way: Burns, because he was home and away from mortal danger; Cak because he simply had air conditioning.
However, their joy in returning home would be somewhat short-lived.
Toward the end of April 2005, Burns and his fellow dog handlers noticed that Cak, who normally "eats like a madman" wasn't touching his food. Taking this a warning sign, Cak was watched closely.
The following day, during a provost marshal certification session, Burns witnessed Cak acting strangely; he had become lethargic and was unable to perform the certification exercises.
Burns gathered him up and brought him to the veterinarian, where Cak underwent a day-long battery of tests that included an abdomen exam and a sonogram in the maternity ward at the Camp Lejeune, N.C., Naval Hospital.
The results of these exams were inconclusive and Cak became the subject of exploratory surgery the following morning.
The surgery uncovered a "spleenic torsion," a condition where Cak's spleen virtually flipped over, swelling to five times its normal size, and killing itself along with the most of his pancreas, said Burns.
The prognosis for survival was bleak. Cak couldn't survive without an operational pancreas and the veterinarians weren't sure they could save him, said Burns.
"My heart sunk. I was in total shock and disbelief," said Burns. "He's my working dog, but he's also my best friend. He was the only one with me in Iraq; he's my boy."
"We were with him 24 hours a day for a week," added Cpl. Brooks Sanderson, a military dog handler and Pensacola, Fla., native. "He was near death. This was out of nowhere. No one knows the reason he was sick or why."
After his successful surgery to repair what was left of his pancreas, Cak continued to grow stronger each day and inch just a little farther away from death's doorstep.
"He's a high drive dog," explained Burns. "He wanted to get better and he had my support and the support of the other handlers."
During this time, Cak, just like all injured "devil dogs," went on light duty for over a month to heal from his surgery.
According to Burns and Sanderson, no one knew quite what to expect from Cak as he improved gradually. There remained unanswered questions as to his ability to come back to work after the severity of his condition, said Burns.
Cak would soon answer all questions, returning to duty shortly after and rejoining Burns on full active duty.
"He was good before, but he's even better now," said Burns. "He seems more focused today than he did before his surgery."
"His detection skills are better and he has a higher drive," added Sanderson.
Although Cak will never deploy again due to health concerns, he has earned a place on Station by his performance alone, said Burns.
"We're both a little goofy at times, but we're each unique and eccentric," said Burns. "It's been very rewarding to work with Cak, we're a good team."
For now, Cak and Burns will continue working together, healthy and always looking forward to adding another chapter in their story.