WAR DOG A SOLDIER’S BEST FRIEND

WAR DOG: A SOLDIER’S BEST FRIEND is a powerful, fast moving documentary focusing on the relationship between soldiers and their canine companions, both during combat and civilian life. WAR DOG focuses on three courageous dogs and their invaluable military service finding and disarming enemies while providing emotional support for the troops.

The movie opens with Delta Force operator Dave Nielsen opening a small trunk where he kept the memories of his service dog, Pepper, including such items as collars, tags and even a napkin in which he brought Pepper some steak. Dave blesses his dog, “You’re a warrior I hold in the highest regard…. Until we meet again in Heaven.” Dave mourns the loss of his canine partner Pepper, who remains missing in action many years after she disappeared while fighting in Iraq. Nielsen’s combat team was searching for a Islamic Terrorist who was hiding near the Tigris River. Pepper went find the man; came out; went in again; and, never coming out again.

In between showing footage of Dave and Pepper, the movie tells viewers that less than one percent of military service dogs go into special operations. Those dogs are trained at a special training center in Oklahoma.

Back from their eighth mission, U.S. Army Staff SGT. Julian McDonald adopted his heroic army dog, Layka, who lost her entire front leg while clearing a Taliban compound. Layka was shot four times at point blank range by an enemy with an AK-47.

Mika was the canine companion of a Ranger named John Dixon. After their military mission, they were separated, and the dog was placed with a policeman in New Orleans. John calls the policeman, Paul, and says he was promised Mika would be returned to him. Paul refuses to return Mika, and John is heartbroken without Mika. Mika dies before John sees her again.

All these dogs are heroes who saved their companions. The stories are heartwarming. Unfortunately, one of the officers uses a significant amount of foul language, but the others do not. One dog’s leg was blown off, so there’s a bloody scene as well as footage of an operation.

WAR DOG is a surprisingly exciting war documentary and a heartfelt tribute to man’s best friend. These dogs are not only heroic but they’re incredibly brilliant. The movie is well worth watching, but extreme caution is recommended for the foul language and the blood.