Dedicated on June 10, 2006, the United States War Dogs Memorial is located at the gateway to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey. The monument consists of a bronze statue of a kneeling American soldier of in Vietnam next to his dog on a Black granite base. The U.S. War Dogs Memorial, while directly representing the War Dog Teams of the Vietnam War, honors all our nation’s war dogs and their handlers – past, present and future.
The Michigan War Dog Memorial honors the service of Military Working Dogs, law enforcement dogs and service dogs. A nonprofit organization, Michigan War Dog Memorial, Inc., maintains the grounds and provides for the respectful and dignified interment of retired service canines. Featured on the grounds is an engraved granite wall memorializing the more than four thousand canines that served and were left behind in Vietnam. More than 5,000 animals, both family pets and war/service dogs, are interred at the site.
The War Dog Memorial is a life-size bronze statue of a reclining Doberman Pincher outside the University of Tennessee Veterinary College. This statue is an exact replica of the memorial to service dogs that is located within the U. S. Marine Corps Dog Cemetery at the U. S. Naval Base in Guam. This monument was made possible by Dr. Maurice Acree who donated funds that allowed for the creation of the statue that welcomes clients and visitors to the college since its dedication on July 17, 1998. The monument reminds visitors of the important military contributions and one of the many ways that "Man's Best Friend" has served humanity.
This museum displays art, photography, memorabilia, and exhibits relating to bird dog breeds, such as Pointers, Brittanys, English Setters, and others. It contains portraits and sculptures of famous bird dogs and traces their participation in hunting, field trials, and other sporting events. It also teaches visitors about the long history of the National Field Trials Championship for Bird Dogs, which was first held in Mississippi in 1896. It then moved to Tennessee, eventually settling on Ames Plantation as its permanent venue in 1915.
This museum and community garden in Marshall, Missouri is dedicated to the memory and growing legacy of Marshall Missouri's most famous resident, Jim the Wonder Dog. Born as the runt of a litter in 1925, the Llewellin Setter was gifted to Sam VanArsdale with little expectation. Not only did Jim prove to be an extraordinary quail hunter, but many to this day believe he possessed extraordinary abilities. After years of performing feats that were impossible to explain, the setter was given the name “Jim the Wonder Dog” in 1935. Jim passed away at age twelve and is the only non-human buried at the Ridge Park Cemetery. In the late 1990s, residents of Marshall supported efforts to build a museum to share Jim's story and promote tourism. The community chose to restore this building because it was a place where Jim entertained visitors who stayed at VanArsdale's aptly-named Ruff Hotel. A community garden extends to a neighboring parcel of land, including a gazebo, waterfall, and a bronze statue of Jim the Wonder Dog. Every year a canine-centered celebration is held in Marshall in Jim's honor that attracts dog lovers from throughout the region.
This monument commemorates the life of Old Drum, a dog who soon became Warrensburg Missouri's most famous resident. Old Drum was tragically killed on October 28, 1869, when the beloved pet became the victim of mistaken identity. Leonidas Hornsby mistook Old Drum as the perpetrator of several attacks on his cattle. The error led Hornsby's assistant to fire his gun and kill the beloved canine. Old Drum's owner, Charles Burden, could not accept the killing as a mere accident and took his neighbor to court. The trial took place across the street at the former courthouse, and the case of Burden v. Hornsby attracted national attention when attorney George Vest decided to offer a eulogy to Old Drum as his closing argument. Dog lovers throughout the nation were moved to tears by the tribute to "man's best friend," a phrase Vest used to artfully describe the unimpeachable loyalty between Old Drum and his bereaved owner. (The video at the bottom of the page is a full episode of a popular 1964 television program that dramatized the story of the court case. You can fast forward to the 20-minute mark to hear George Vest's famous eulogy).
In 1934, rail workers discovered a stray Collie and nursed her back to health. They named the dog Annie and she quickly became the unofficial mascot of the city as she greeted passengers arriving and departing Fort Collins for the next 15 years. This statue in front of the library pays tribute to a dog that was so beloved to the residents of Fort Collins that they often greeted her as they exited the train even before they reunited with family members.
Through out the history of the United States Military, there have been many acknowledged and justified heroes. As time passes, the species in which these heroes present themselves has taken a whole new form. Recently, the use of the Military service dogs has increased along with the recognition of the sacrifice made by them. Today, the "Military Working Dog Teams National Monument" located on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas honors those soldiers and their K9 companions that have selflessly served the United States military in both combat and non combat capacities. The monument was designed and constructed by the "John C. Burnam foundation.
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This trail offers a variety of memorials and monuments in the contiguous United States that celebrate dogs and their relation to humans. Please note that there is also a monument that honors sled dogs in Alaska.
