#7 Vietnam K-9 units, the dogs and their handlers, were credited with saving thousands of lives in the war. There are countless stories of how the dogs prevented an ambush, discovered deadly mines or booby traps, or sounded the alarm against infiltrators. (See Famous War Dogs for some Vietnam stories.) These dogs were so effective that the VC offered bounties for killing military working dogs and their handlers.
Three to four thousand scout and sentry dogs served in Vietnam, largely German Shepherds. Sadly, at the end of the conflict, in a decision that remains painful decades later, most of the in-country dogs were euthanized. Fewer than 250 dogs were returned to the United States or other locations.
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The army is using sniffer dogs to track down rebels on the run who fiercely fought troops in Zambales on Thursday. Sniffer dogs from a K9 unit of the Philippine Army are combing the mountains of Zambales and nearby areas for the rebels who escaped with comrades who were either killed or injured in the attack, said Major Bong Razalan on behalf of the Northern Luzon Command.