The Ddamien Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to adopting and saving the lives of retired Military Working Dogs, Contract Working Dogs, and Law enforcement dogs that are traditionally unable to find a home once their service is complete. Most of the dogs that come through the program are unfit for public adoption due to behavioral or medical reasons. They are with us for the rest of their lives after retirement.
In recent years, the military working dog program has been able to reach the public view because of social media and movies. We all have a little bit of a romanticized view of the life of a military working dog, the bonding with handlers, and the hopefully happily forever after retirement life.
Unfortunately, not all dogs after service are fit for what we consider a regular home. Some working dogs struggle with normal dog issues like not getting along with other dogs or animals, not doing well with children, or can be destructive when left to their own activities in the house. Due to the nature of their training backgrounds and breeding for high intensity and prey drive, these issues can be very daunting to a home with no dog handler experience. Some of the dogs in our program were even scheduled for euthanasia after extensive searches for proper homes and one couldn’t be found until we were notified. It is a difficult, emotional process that is very hard on the kennels, vet staff and prior handlers, but it is a realistic problem for commands due to liability reasons.
One of the other issues we get asked about regularly is “why didn’t their handler adopt them?” During the average career span of a Military Working Dog ( which is based on the dog entering the program as a 2 year old and retiring at the age of 11), a dog can have a handler assigned to him as often as every year depending on the operations of the base. That is 7 handlers that have had the chance to work, train and even deploy with any given dog. The kennel masters try to reach out to any known handlers of the dog, and give them first chance to adopt a dog. Not every handler gets along with the dog they have worked with and some dogs just will not do well in a family environment especially with children. Most of the dogs that come into our program are requested directly from current or past handlers to make sure their partners are well cared for when they are eligible for retirement. We have a Facebook page set up for the dogs so everyone that had any connection with a particular dog, can follow their retirement journeys, both the ups and the downs. The handlers get regular updates on their partners if they would like them, and we try to make sure they get to see each other when ever the chance arises.
Since 2008, we have adopted 18 MWD or LE dogs. They are brought in from bases all over the United States, Mexico and even the Middle East- from Everett Washington, Yuma Arizona, Oceana Virginia, San Diego California (from Commander Navy Region Southwest and MCAS Miramar), Edwards Air Force Base, Joint Base Dix- Lakehurst in New Jersey, Port Hueneme California, Edwards Air Force Base, Mexico City Mexico and Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Everything from Air Force, Navy, Marine and civilian police departments. At this time, we have 8 dogs in our care, with 2 more we hope on the way around Thanksgiving.
Once a dog retires from their lifetime of service, they do not receive any government support or care. All of the medical, transportation and food are solely on the adopter. We have raised money to care for everything from chronic eye issues, MRI’s, spinal surgeries and treatment for cancer. This year alone, we have spent more then $15,000.00 on emergency surgeries, annual vet care, lab work and physical therapy. Each dog goes through roughly a bag of dog food a month, or like our 16 year old Air Force dog MWD Rocky H353, he goes though several cases of canned food! We do everything we can to offer them the best retirement life we can with amazing beds, toys and environmental enrichment opportunities.
Two of the dogs that have been a part of the Ddamien Project were actually my own partners. I was a dog handler for the United States Navy from 2006-2011. I was assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, and Commander Navy Region Southwest in San Diego CA. My second dog I was assigned to for 18 months is MWD Kira J080 was a very snarky high drive Belgian Malinois that was a Patrol/ Explosive dog that retired in 2012 and had passed away last year just before she turned 15 years old, and MWD Talpi N183 is the ever happy and ridiculous German Shepherd Explosive Detector Dog that just turned 12 years old and has been with us for almost 2 years. He was the last working dog I was assigned to before getting out of the military. My husband helps me care for the all of these amazing Hero dogs is currently a Senior Chief (Master-At-Arms) in the United States Navy and is going on 21 years of service.
We are currently on 10 acres of Rural San Diego County CA, home to 4 horses (including a newly adopted BLM Mustang) 2 BLM Burros rescued from Las Vegas Animal Control, 4 goats, 4 cats, and several regular house dogs. Several of our dogs, including our retired military working dogs participate in dock diving, swimming, and frisbee. One of our MWD’s was washed out of the Navy at a young age and went on to earn his Schutzhund IPO1 title.
We are hoping to continue to grow and eventually build a new kennel facility to save more lives. All of the money we raise goes to the care and needs of the dogs in our program and allows us to offer them the best retirement and medical care we can. They have saved lives, have been best friends to so many, and touched the lives of many service members they served with.
They will be forever feared, and always loved.
Krystal Tronboll
www.DdamienProject.com
