The domestication of dogs has both improved society AND benefited human happiness. I have had the privilege of serving my country for seventeen years and I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of domesticated dogs. In the form of working dogs, both bomb sniffing and PTSD service animals.
Throughout my service, I have been deployed three times to contingency areas — once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan — more than three years overseas. I spent these tours as an infantryman, routinely patrolling the streets and mountains in search of the folks who wish to do harm to us or the local population.
Many times, during these patrols, we would find roadside bombs. The Improvised Explosive Device, or IED, became the symbol of these conflicts. Unfortunately, I have lost a few friends to these devices. But occasionally, we would be fortunate enough to have a dog with us. Often, this dog would be able to detect these devices and allow trained people to disarm them before they could hurt anyone. These dogs were highly trained animals but every single one of them I encountered was also an extremely loving and compassionate dog.
They seemed to completely understand that their job was important and that by doing it, it was saving lives. Many of these dogs that got to live with us, would serve a secondary, unofficial role as a companion. The bond between handler and working dog was special, but these great dogs welcomed the rest of the soldiers they were around as well. Their mere presence was a morale boost. There is just something about petting a dog that seems to make all the worries in the world go away.
Perhaps just as important for service members as the bomb dogs, are PTSD service dogs. Many veterans come home and have a difficult time transitioning. Whether it is a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, or adjustment disorder, these trained animals have been instrumental in helping veterans transition and live healthy, productive lives. These dogs are vital to the happiness of their human.
The mere presence of a dog with the veteran has measured and unmeasured benefits that sometimes go beyond the understanding of the human psyche. Whether the dog is trained to respond to an anxiety attack, or just function as a calming presence in a highly stressful situation, without these dogs the afflicted veteran would likely add to the suicide statistics that are so prevalent in this nation today.
There is yet another type of working dog that comes to mind, and that is the dogs that worked tirelessly after the attacks of September 11th, 2001 to find the missing people or their remains amongst the rubble in downtown Manhattan. Their contributions to the search efforts allowed many families to lay their loved ones to rest peacefully.
The domestication of dogs is without a doubt one of the most fascinating accomplishments of nature. Dogs exponentially increase human happiness and have made such an impact on society that one wonders what society would look like without them. I, for one, cannot imagine that type of sick, disgusting world.
