Honoring Our Furry Heroes: Celebrating National K9 Veterans Day

Every year on March 13th, we celebrate National K9 Veterans Day! This special day honors dogs who have bravely served in the military, law enforcement, and search and rescue. The day was inspired by Vietnam War veteran and K9 handler, Joe White. The date marks the U.S. Army K9 Corps' birthday, established in 1942. Today, the celebration recognizes all K9 service dogs, active, retired, or deceased. Around 1,600 dogs serve in the U.S. military, and about 50,000 work as police K9s. They train in various specialties, from explosive detection to therapy. Popular breeds include German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, but others like Bloodhounds and Labrador Retrievers are also used. K9s form strong bonds with their handlers and are valued team members. Let's celebrate these loyal and dedicated dogs!