In Praise of Our Service Dogs

As I wrote in my book, Flower Essences for Animals,  “Is it any wonder that animals are our teachers?”

Thanks to their heightened senses—dogs in this instance with their extraordinary sense of smell—canines are also our protectors.

In an article this week, USA Today pays homage to the heroic dogs who are taking a leading role in Iraq’s terror war. These German shepherds, Malinois, and Labradors are trained to sniff out bombs and explosives—a job at which a British-manufactured bomb detection device, used at many airport checkpoints throughout Iraq, has failed. The AE-651, shaped like a staple gun with a television antenna, was recently banned.

Known as bomb-sniffing dogs, these K-9s are trained to catch the subtle scents of luggage, identify any bags that contain bombs, and then sit on them.

Says Brig. Gen. Mohannad Mesheb Hajea, “. . .the dogs’ keen sense of smell makes them invaluable weapons in thwarting terrorists whose calling cards are roadside bombs and explosively rigged vehicles.”  The role of dogs in security the country is becoming more greatly recognized by the Iraqi security forces.

With a greater awareness of the richness of our pets’ presence in our lives—and of their ability to heroically save our lives if the need arises—we can stand in awe as we teach them to sit, fetch, and roll over. That same life force that animates the flowers is abundantly present in their animated forms.

What better reason to treat them with flower essences?