News Article:
Dog lovers send goodies to military working dogs
Thursday, 15 May 2008

Story and photo by Master Sgt. Tim Volkert
Multi-National Division – North Public Affairs Office

MOSUL, Iraq – Mail call around Forward Operating Base Marez in Iraq has been going to the dogs recently.

A group of dog lovers from the Gem City Dog Club in Dayton, Ohio have been conducting fund raisers and purchasing dog toys, cooling vests and a variety of other amenities for military working dogs serving in Iraq.

Starline Nunley of Springfield, Ohio, told her son she wanted to send care packages for him and the Soldiers he works with to help them deal with the heat of summer and life away from home. Her son, Maj. Parker Frawley, the planning officer for the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, could not think of anything he or the Soldiers he works with really needed. After talking with his mom, the conversation turned to dogs and the idea was born to help the working dogs serving in Iraq.

Frawley said his mom’s dog club loved the idea to support the working dogs and immediately began raising money to buy all the working dogs at FOB Marez cooling vests and other items to help them cope with the severe heat they will face.

“I can’t physically protect my son and all the other sons and daughters in Iraq,” Nunley said. “These dedicated dogs do this service selflessly and with great courage. Whatever we can do to help them do their job easier is helping to protect our sons and daughters.”

Shortly after that conversation, Frawley began receiving mail for the likes of Sgt. 1st Class Budge, Sgt. 1st Class Lucky and Staff Sgt. Bronco.

While receiving mail for dogs might seem unusual, Frawley said these dogs help save the lives of Soldiers, so picking up some mail and delivering it to them is a labor of love.

“I’ve had pets my entire life,” he said. “I don’t mind (delivering the packages) at all. These dogs do things that save lives every day. This is for the Soldiers as well.”

While Nunley’s initial goal was to provide the cooling vests for the working dogs at Marez, the support she received from the community enabled her to quickly expand her goals.

“My initial goal was to provide cooling vests for these MWDs at Mosul,” she said. “This was expanded to purchase doggles and Mutt Luks for the MWDs to protect their eyes from the blowing sand and their feet from the hot sand and asphalt that sticks to their feet and burns them. The outpouring of support for this project is very heart warming.”

Maj. Parker Frawley, planning officer for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, takes a moment to play with Zzar at the Military Working Dog kennel on Logistical Support Area Diamondback, Iraq, after delivering some dog toys and water dishes to the dogs. “It’s taken off more than I think she anticipated,” Frawley said.

Since she began working on the project, about two months ago, he said his mom and the dog club has been able to send enough items for all of the working dogs at FOB Marez and the other surrounding bases in the 3rd ACR area of operations. They have provided 15 cooling vests and 30 cooling packs, 15 sets of Mutt Luks (protective paw wear), 15 doggles (eye protection), and numerous chew toys and other items such as collapsible water dishes that can be easily carried out on missions.

The Soldiers who work with the dogs said they are very appreciative of the care that families back home have shown for the animals.

“I thought it was awesome that people would take time for (the working dogs),” said Sgt. Daniel Fulton of the 148th Military Police Detachment, Fort Carson, Colo.

“We hardly ever get anything for the dogs,” said Staff Sgt. Aaron Kimes, with the 67th Engineer Canine Detachment, Fort Leonard Wood. “It’s awesome. It’s a morale thing for the dogs. You can’t find stuff for the dogs out here.”

While the packages coming to Frawley may be going to dogs, it is the Soldiers who are benefiting from them. So, in the end, his mom is still doing what she wanted, helping her son and other Soldiers stay safe in Iraq.