Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* It's a long, proud, furry history. Ancient soldiers trained giant mastiffs to run in front of their troops by the hundreds. Dogs carried first-aid packs and messages behind the lines in WWI. American families were urged to donate family pets to the Dogs for Defense mission during WWII. And canines have served a vital role in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These specially trained animals, now called Military Working Dogs, have sniffed out subterranean jungle tunnels, crawled through submarine passages, and fearlessly jumped from helicopters to help keep soldiers and citizens safe. Plenty of books about MWDs exist, but few take such a satisfyingly broad view or are written with this kind of clarity. Huge, colorful photos trace the history of war dogs and follow the progress of puppies as they learn to search rooms, surmount obstacles, and be suspended in midair without panicking. Patent describes which breeds are best suited for war, how dog injuries are repaired, and what kinds of equipment the dogs are given (including night-vision-equipped vests and doggles ), while sidebars highlight stories of famous MWDs of conflicts past. As always, the shots of dogs licking soldiers are bracing and surprising as is this entire clear-eyed, smartly organized book.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In informed prose and photographs of conflicts past and present, Patent explores the timely topic of dogs trained to assist soldiers. Images from contemporary wars depict such breeds as the Belgian Malinois (the breed of the dog that famously assisted with the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound) being trained by handlers and at work in the field, while vintage photographs of soldiers and their dogs from WWII and other past wars reveal how dogs have been involved in combat for generations. Profiles of "Hero Hounds" appear throughout, offering specific accounts of dogs at war. A moving portrayal of the powerful human-canine partnership. Ages 4-up. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-The invaluable contributions of Military Working Dogs are well documented in this book. Patent discusses their special attributes such as the night vision and sense of smell that help MWDs to keep their human partners safe. The roles they have played in World Wars I and II, in Vietnam, and in Iraq and Afghanistan are highlighted. Brief histories of individual dogs such as Stubby from World War I and Eli in Afghanistan are touchingly told. Present-day training and equipment are also explained. The excellently selected, full-color photos constantly capture these devoted canines selflessly performing their duties and sometimes just offering comfort and affection to their human counterparts. The author points out that the military continues to classify these dogs as equipment in spite of their unique service, and many were abandoned in Vietnam when the U.S. left the country. Today, more are returning home and being adopted or continuing to serve in other capacities. Their story is impressive and the author has told it well.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Talk about an eye-opener; one of the first photographs in this book about canines in the U.S. armed forces features a dog leaping from an aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico. This thrilling intro is indicative of the volumes huge middle-grade appeal. With each passing conflict, the role of Military Working Dogs (MWDs) has evolved: theyve done everything from aiding the wounded during World War I to finding underground tunnels dug by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War to sniffing out explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan and helping their human partners cope with posttraumatic stress disorder. Patents accessible text starts by tracing the history of dogs in American wars and then outlines the process by which a puppy becomes an MWD. The books clean design features archival black-and-white images and vivid contemporary color photos on patriotic red or blue backgrounds; section heads are clearly delineated with a M.A.S.H.-like stencil font (and some stars) that enhance the military subject, and the large type works well for the target audience. Hero Hounds sidebars (set in yellow text boxes that nicely offset all the red, white, and blue) tell of individual dogs and their heroic exploits. The author occasionally overdoes it with the acronyms, but dog lovers and military buffs will hardly notice. A reading list, websites, glossary, and index point fans to more information. sam bloom (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The story of Military Working Dogs and Specialized Search Dogs is presented in a fascinating, full-color volume. Nine thousand dogs served in World War II. More than 30 breeds were trained, but only seven actually served: Belgian sheepdogs, Doberman pinschers, American Eskimo dogs, farm collies, German shepherds, malamutes and Siberian huskies. Four thousand dogs served in Vietnam, and hundreds died in combat. Patent sketches the history of dogs in war from ancient times to World Wars I and II and on to modern warsVietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. It's dogs' "super senses" of sight, sound and smell, and their capacity to bond with soldiers that make them so useful in military theaters. They uncovered hidden tunnels in Vietnam, find dangerous land mines in Afghan villages, and locate weapons, explosives and drugs at home and abroad. They leap from aircraft with soldiers (and wear "doggles" to protect their eyes), don K9 Storm Intruder vests and wear booties to protect their feet on ice. Besides describing the use of MWDs in various wars, this lively, bursting-with-color volume covers the life of the canine forces from puppy to MWD to retirement. The straightforward text and color photographs celebrate the bonds between dogs and handlers that are so crucial in modern warfare. A sure hit with dog lovers everywhere. (timeline, glossary, further resources, index) (Nonfiction. 7-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
