Died – 4/6/17
Handler – Spec. Kevin Adams
Fort Carson renders honors to long serving military police dog Dragon
Dragon, a military working dog, spent his last day eating steak and playing ball. The German shepherd served in the Army for nine years and five months before he was diagnosed with non-operative, aggressive cancer on March 31 and euthanized Thursday. Dragon, born April 30, 2006, entered active service as a drug-detection dog Nov. 1, 2007, according to a Fort Carson news release. He served in Vicenza, Italy, until 2013 and then served on Fort Carson until his death. He was deployed twice – to Qatar and Honduras – and worked alongside nine soldiers. Dragon was with the 69th Military Police Detachment, 759th Military Police Battalion. His final partner was Spec. Kevin Adams, a military policeman. An end of watch ceremony, during which soldiers rendered honors, was held Thursday at the Fort Carson military working dog kennels. Dragon’s death was announced “with a heavy heart,” according to the news release. Peterson Air Force Base is honoring two military working dogs at 1 p.m. Monday in the base auditorium, according to a news release. One dog was euthanized due to serious illness, and another will be retiring and adopted by its handler after many years of service. No further details were available Thursday. “Military working dogs are crucial to security forces and their mission,” according to the Peterson release. “These highly trained dogs are considered partners, not just animals, and form an unbreakable bond with their handlers.”