'K-9 tails'--100th SFS hangs up leashes as MWDs retire

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kyla Gifford
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Military Working Dogs Ootto and Ferro showed off their police badges for the last time recently, when they retired during a ceremony in the base theater on RAF Mildenhall, England.

Ootto, 9, was RAF Mildenhall's first Puppy Program dog, and he joined the 100th Security Forces Squadron team in February 2006. He has worked with eight handlers.

The Puppy Program began at Joint Base San Antonio - where all Department of Defense MWDs are trained - to allow the military to breed its own dogs, cut costs and produce a better-trained asset. All Puppy Program dogs have a double letter designation at the start of their name to identify them as the specialist animals.

During his distinguished career, MWD Ootto put in 9,000 working hours and gained 2,500 hours of explosive detection search time. He also aided the Secret Service on 10 missions in support of the U.S. president in Russia, Ireland, Romania, Abu Dhabi and the U.K.

The Puppy Program dog also deployed to the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa missions.

Ferro, 9, has been assigned to RAF Mildenhall since July 2008.

He contributed 7,500 working hours and gained 1,500 hours of explosive detection search time. Additionally, he also aided the Secret Service on three missions in support of the U.S. president in Latvia, Dubai and the U.K.

MWDs dedicate their lives to their job. They spend years serving the U.S. and protecting the lives of service members.

"An average work day includes vehicle sweeps at the search barn, walking patrols, MWD presence at the gates and random installation entry vehicle checks," said Senior Airman Gabriel Santiago, 100th Security Forces Squadron MWD handler from San Diego. "Usually during the work schedule, we try to incorporate training to maintain performance, either bite work or detection. Some days there may be a demonstration scheduled and we show people the capabilities of the MWDs."

MWDs train for different scenarios; they need to be prepared for deployments, and go through the same process as military members.

"MWDs undergo a vast amount of training in order to ensure the team is placed into as many simulated scenarios as possible," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Serrano, 100th SFS MWD trainer from Santa Clarita, Calif. "Deployments provide the opportunity for the MWD team to seize the chance to demonstrate their capabilities and develop as a unity through reliance."

Eventually, just like humans, work wears on MWDs and they need to retire from the military. The military will consider MWD for retirement due to medical conditions, age and operational deficiencies.

"Once considered, the kennel master, trainer and veterinarian staff will obtain supporting documents to concur with the valid reasons for retirement," Serrano said. "When all the data is collected, it's signed off by our local veterinarian, commander and program manager then forwarded to the Department of Defense MWD program office for final disposition."

Santiago, a handler since March 2013, was MWD Ferro's handler until Ferro retired March 7, 2014. He is now Ferro's owner.

"About three months after I started working with Ferro, we noticed that one of his back legs had an awkward gait when he ran," Santiago said. "Despite decreasing his workload, and even though he is stoic when it comes to pain, he was deemed unfit to work at the end of October 2013, and the retirement process began."

Although both Ootto and Ferro are the same age, 9 is not necessarily the age that MWDs are required to retire.

"There is no real magic age number when it comes to being considered for retirement," said Santiago. "Once an MWD has been deemed unfit for duty and is being considered for retirement, we go through tests to see if they are eligible for adoption.

"The primary concern when transitioning from an MWD to a pet is that they don't reactivate their training and attack someone," explains Santiago. "Some tests include food aggression (see how the dog reacts when you try to take away its food) and socialization (how the dog reacts around people or other dogs). If the MWD fails those portions and is deemed too aggressive, the dog will have to be put down. Once those tests are done, we see how the MWD will do health wise. If it is deemed that the MWD is suffering as a result of injuries or ailments or that the costs to keep the MWD well would cause hardship on whoever owns him, unfortunately the dog will have to be put down."

MWD Ootto retired March 7, 2014.

Ootto is now living life to the fullest in San Antonio with Staff Sgt. John Houston, his final handler at RAF Mildenhall. Houston, 341st Training Squadron Military Working Dog handler at Joint Base San Antonio, is making sure his former partner is taking it easy, and his daughters, ages 8 and 3, enjoy having their new family member around.

"Ootto is really enjoying his retirement and getting spoiled by the whole family," Houston said. "He loves to play with the girls and lay on his blanket chewing on toys. He has adjusted well and is doing great in his new life as a family dog."

After years of dedicated service, the MWDs have earned their retirement and respect from those in and out of uniform.