The DOG thread - Page 343

Steve Carlton · 10-30-2025, 11:40 AM

Mia's been taking guitar lessons. Turning into a rock star!

https://youtube.com/shorts/8brzDWhXH6E?feature=share

Bugsinrugs · 11-01-2025, 06:48 PM

Steve Carlton · 11-10-2025, 08:58 PM

Decades ago my parents were going to get a dog and my dad wanted an Airedale. Back then, my brother and I thought that was weird, so we pre-empted him by giving them a Golden Retriever. The plan was to give them a female, then grab a couple of pups for ourselves. After one heat, my mom was done and Kelly got spayed (her litter name was Jesus). She was an incredible dog that both my parents adored, especially my mom. Years later I felt guilty about what we did, and still do, to this day. I've since realized what an incredible breed they are, "King of the Terriers" and all, various roles with the military, and someone once said on this forum they could take any breed of dog. I came across the Vintage Airedale site on Facebook and saw some great photos.

"Sanitätshund" (Medical Dog)
Artist: AK Heid
(Alfred Heid 1855 -1930 Painter, Etcher, Illustrator)
c. WW1 (1914-1918)
A mercy dog (also known as an ambulance dog, Red Cross dog, or casualty dog) was a dog that served in a paramedical role in the military, most notably during World War I. They were often sent out after large battles, where they would seek out wounded soldiers, and they were well-suited to the conditions of trench warfare. They carried first-aid supplies that could then be used by wounded soldiers, and comforted dying soldiers who were mortally wounded. They were also trained to guide combat medics to soldiers who required extensive care. Many mercy dogs were trained by national Red Cross societies to serve the country in which the specific society operated. The German army called such dogs medical dogs. As many as 20,000 dogs are estimated to have served as mercy dogs in World War I and World War II, and they have been credited with saving thousands of lives. Such dogs were also used by the United States in the Korean War.

A typical mercy dog in World War I was outfitted with a saddlebag that had water, liquor, and first aid supplies. They were trained by the Red Cross society that was based in the country of each army to travel silently around no man's land, typically at night or after a battle had ended, looking for its side's wounded soldiers and ignoring dead or wounded enemy ones.

When they found a soldier, the soldier could use the medical supplies to tend to their wounds. If their condition was severe enough that this was impossible, the dog would return to the trenches with a piece of the soldier's uniform and lead a paramedic to the soldier. If the dog was unsuccessful in finding a wounded soldier, it would lie down in front of its handler instead of leading the handler to them. Some dogs were fitted with gas masks.

Dogs attached to Allied Powers were trained to take a piece of uniform and those with the Central Powers any item, including a helmet or particularly a belt. Some dogs were also involved in pulling soldiers on carts between the front lines and medical bases further back. Mercy dogs were known to drag soldiers to safety at times. The dogs would also comfort mortally wounded soldiers as they died.

Ferry Porsche:

Hopefully some Airedale owners will post some comments!