News>Working dog kennels receive massive renovation
Photos
Tech. Sgts. Michael Biggs (right) and Joseph Landree, deployed with the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, prepare to install a PVC pipe under a new K-9 kennel on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Biggs and Sergeant Landree are both deployed from the 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Master Sgt. Victor Collazo (right) and Tech. Sgt. Anthony Roman align and measure pieces of metal before they are welded together on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The metal frames will be used to build new ramps for the dogs. Sergeant Collazo and Sergeant Roman are deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Sparks fly as Tech. Sgt. Anthony Roman, deployed to the 386th Civil Engineer Squadron, uses an arc welder to join a frame together on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The metal frames will be used to build new ramps for the dogs. Sergeant Roman is deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Staff Sgt. Mark Gorton (foreground) uses a blow torch to cut metal, while Tech. Sgt. Anthony Roman welds a frame together on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The metal frames will be used to build new ramps for the dogs. Sergeant Roman is deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. Sergeant Gorton is deployed from the 136th Airlift Wing, Fort Worth, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Sparks fly as Tech. Sgt. Anthony Roman, deployed to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, uses an arc welder to join a frame together on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th ECES is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The metal frames will be used to build new ramps for the facilities. Sergeant Roman is deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Senior Airman Mike Hughes, deployed to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, cuts a PVC pipe during construction on a new K-9 kennel on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Airman Hughes is deployed from the 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
Tech. Sgt. Michael Biggs, a member of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, installs a PVC pipe under a new K-9 kennel on July 11 at a base in Southwest Asia. The 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is completing a project to increase the square footage of the K-9 kennels for the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Biggs is deployed from the 108th Air Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)
by Staff Sgt. Vincent Borden
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
7/15/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Military working dogs transitioning through a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility are receiving a "bone-a-fide" upgrade to their accommodations, courtesy of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.
The renovations, which included floor stripping and resealing, and the installation of air-conditioning units, floor drains and plumbing, are part of an overall space expansion project for the kennels.
Labor for the project is a collaborative effort being handled by different sections of the 386th ECES.
"The project is totally in-house from start to finish," said Master Sgt. Gerald Amidon, NCO in charge of the 386th ECES structures section. "We moved the kennels once they arrived, put them together and installed all the plumbing and electric power."
The upgrade allows more K-9s to be accommodated in kennels during their time here before continuing their journey to locations in the AOR. The old facility could accommodate a maximum of eight working dogs; the facility expansion easily triples that number.
"When you're dealing with the Army, Air Force and Navy, the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron can receive anywhere from 12 to 24 dogs a month," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Rebholz, 386th ESFS kennel master. He and his team of military dog handlers are responsible for the K-9s assigned to this location and others in the local area.
"The dogs fly through here from stateside bases on their way to [different locations in the AOR], Sergeant Rebholz said. "They're on the ground here no longer than 72 hours before departing on six-month assignments in Iraq and other locations."
The improvements are far from just an amenity upgrade, however. As a part of the renovation package, the 386th ECES modified and installed electric heat alarms in the kennels, an improvement from the battery-operated ones they were previously equipped with.
The heat alarms have saved two dogs' lives since they were modified this year.
"If the temperature in the trailer goes above 80 degrees it immediately sounds the alarms," Sergeant Rebholz said. "They've sounded once since I've been here ... there were two dogs in the kennel. It was still a decent temperature in there when the alarm sounded, so the handlers were able to take their dogs and put them in kennels in their tents before the temperature rose further."
The kennels also provide a comfortable haven for dogs traveling with the Army and Navy, who at times may wait here a week or more before traveling to different locations in the AOR. Extended stays present their own set of problems.
Before the kennel facilities were set up, handlers were forced to keep their dogs in kennels in their tents, Sergeant Rebholz said. There they were susceptible to things like heat-related injury due to air-conditioning malfunction, as well as interaction with other people living inside the tent when they were let out of their kennels.
The new facilities alleviate any possibility of those types of safety-related mishaps from occurring.
"This gives handlers a fully-functional kennel to put their dogs into during their stay here before traveling abroad," Sergeant Rebholz said.
Other upgrades scheduled to be completed by the 386th ECES include entry ramps for the building and a fence surrounding the facility.
