Military working dogs retire, get new homes

  • Published
  • By Argen Duncan
  • Nucleus editor
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Two of Kirtland Air Force Base's military working dogs retired with accolades at a Dec. 16 ceremony at the 377th Air Base Wing Presentation Center.

Alea and Capa, patrol and narcotics-detection dogs, are living with area families now that they've finished their military careers.

Their retirement ceremony was Wednesday afternoon in the Wing Presentation Center. A number of Airmen, a few civilians and several Albuquerque Police K9 officers attended.

"Military working dogs, aka MWD's, are a special breed that share a bond with their handlers unlike any other," said master of ceremonies Staff Sgt. Timothy Jones.

Alea is a 10-year-old German shepherd who's worked in the Air Force for eight years, according to a news release from 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. She took part in more than 30 combat missions in Afghanistan, where she also uncovered four heroin labs and $7 million of illegal narcotics.

With her last handler, Staff Sgt. Richard Wians, she also deployed to Honduras to work as part of a drug interdiction team with Army and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency personnel.

"From Day 1, I knew she was a lover, not a fighter," Wians said.

Alea was always wagging her stumpy tail and eager to please, he continued. He said he was sorry to see her go, but now she could "spend the rest of her life on a couch like she deserves."

377th Security Forces Group Commander Col. Richard Demouy said even though Alea is 10, she took top honors in a working dog competition this year.

Capa, a 7-year-old German shepherd, worked in the Air Force for five years before hip problems led to his retirement. According to the news release, he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he spent more than 700 hours on "outside the wire" missions and searched thousands of pieces of luggage.

"We'll just say Capa's got personality," Demouy said. "... Capa lets you know when he's ready for you to be his handler."

The dog's last handler, Staff Sgt. Tanner Theel, said he didn't get to work with Capa long. Until Capa accepts a handler as boss, Theel said, he just drags the human where
he wants to go.

"He doesn't hang out; he doesn't wait for you," Theel said. Karen and Allan Homstead of Albuquerque adopted Capa. Allan said they previously adopted a different retired military
working dog, who was a good companion and a "priceless mutt." That dog died a few years ago, and the couple decided it was time to adopt another.

"They're really good mutts," said Allan, a retired colonel. "He'll protect Karen. No one will want to mess with my pretty young wife."

Master Sgt. Michael Ward of Kirtland and his family adopted Alea. Demouy said when the Ward, his wife and their two children met her, the look in their eyes showed Alea was their dog.

Demouy said the dogs' badges were retired with them, and they received certificates of appreciation from high-ranking officials.

"A dog is much more than a tool; it's a family member to you," he said.

Demouy said decades ago, military dogs were weaponized, sent into enemy armies with poison on them. The, in the 1940s, service members began working with dogs as partners, and now a handler must adjust to the dog and not the other way around.