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Military Opens $15M Dog Hospital

'Canine Walter Reed' will treat pooches wounded in combat

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2008 12:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – If GI Rover gets injured in Iraq, chances are he'll end up at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, where the "Walter Reed of the veterinary world" has just opened. The base has long been training pups for service in all branches of the military, but its old animal hospital couldn't keep up with demand, the AP reports.

At Lackland, dogs learn to sniff for bombs or drugs and locate land mines, skills they'll later use in Iraq or Afghanistan, or at home in service with the TSA. The new hospital has operating rooms, scanning equipment, and a rehab center. "This investment made sense and somehow, we were able to convince others," says a retired colonel involved in the project.

Dog handler James Stegmeyer works with Kamilka at the new Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Guests tour the new Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Sgt. Douglas Timberlake works with Jimmy, a military dog, during canine training at Lackland Air Force Base, July 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey poses July 17, 2007, with the military dog, Flapoor, at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in California where the Belgian Malinois recovered from injuries suffered in Iraq in 2006. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The new $15 million veterinary hospital, complete with operating rooms and intensive care, officially opened yesterday, offering an advanced facility to treat military dogs. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Military Opens $15M Dog Hospital

'Canine Walter Reed' will treat pooches wounded in combat

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Hatred Fueling Afghan Army Attacks on Allied Troops

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Hillary Clinton calls incident possible war crime

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Danger to convoys forcing military to rely on pricey airlifts

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Military Opens $15M Dog Hospital

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • US military • TSA • veterinarian • dog • bomb-sniffing dogs

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

Hatred Fueling Afghan Army Attacks on Allied Troops

Mutual contempt behind most attacks on NATO troops from within: report

Marines in Urination Video ID'd

Hillary Clinton calls incident possible war crime

Why We Spend $400 per Gallon of Gas in Afghanistan

Danger to convoys forcing military to rely on pricey airlifts

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Newser By Users

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