25 May Philanthropist Lois Pope & American Humane Dedicate American Military Hero Dog Monument

Courtesy of cbs12.com

There are 2,700 dogs currently in active military service and about 700 that are deployed overseas, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

But for the most part, these courageous canines have not been given the credit due to them for their heroic acts on and off the battlefield.

Lois Pope, the nationally prominent philanthropist and disabled veterans and animal welfare champion, is changing this by bestowing upon military service dogs the honor they deserve. She and Dr. Robin R. Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, the country’s first humane organization, dedicated the American Military Hero Dog Monument on Saturday at Tri-County Animal Rescue in Boca Raton.

The American Military Hero Dog Monument is a national tribute to the canines who serve in the five branches of the Armed Forces.

“There are 4.2 million living American veterans who have permanent physical and/or psychological disabilities, and they now have a memorial in Washington, D.C. to recognize their service and sacrifice,” Pope said, referring to the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial which she created. “But dogs have also served and sacrificed alongside our troops in wars and conflicts around the globe for more than a century. While a handful of these animals have been decorated, I felt it was time that they, too, had a permanent monument to honor them for their heroism.”