New Homes Sought for Military Dogs

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, The Military Dog Center in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, is set to auction 54 military dogs on Saturday (January 27). These dogs did not meet the national service criteria but are deemed safe as they have undergone basic training and are friendly towards handlers. The Military Dog School within the Military Dog Center, under the Army Animal Division, trains these dogs to be resilient, powerful, and intelligent fighters for military operations. Their duties include bomb detection, searching for explosives, and aiding in disaster relief efforts. Currently, there are around 700 military dogs under the center's care. After 16 weeks of training, some dogs did not meet the required standards, such as being overweight, inactive, indifferent to the environment, slow in response, lacking agility, or showing a lack of enthusiasm. These 54 dogs, including 6 Labrador Retrievers, 20 Malinois, and 28 German Shepherds, will be auctioned off to individuals who love and are willing to c are for them. The auction will take place on Saturday, January 27, starting at 8:00 AM. Among the dogs to be auctioned are Pepae, a 2-year-old male German Shepherd, Lydia, a 4-year-old female Malinois, and Leanne, a 4-year-old female Labrador Retriever. These three dogs represent the 54 that will be showcased during the auction, with the hope that loving owners will provide them with new homes. Notably, these military dogs, having passed their evaluations and tests, are trained not to be aggressive or harmful to humans. They will bite only when they are commanded by their owners. The starting bid is set between 1,500 and 2,000 Baht, with increments of 100 Baht for each subsequent bid. Bidders must bring collars, leashes, or cages for transporting the dogs. The center's officials confirm that the dogs being auctioned did not meet the training criteria but are not retired or discharged. Those retired or discharged dogs will be under the care of the Military Dog Center until the end of their natural lives, considering the significant benefits they bring to the military. After the auction, if any dog remains unclaimed, the center will continue to care for them until they die naturally. Source: Thai News Agency