Publisher's Synopsis
A story about a Dutch-born puppy and her journey to become a member of the greatest fighting force in the world...Learn about adversity, dedication, gratitude, love, and sacrifice through the eyes of a Special Operations Forces K-9.The story is about a dog named Patty, who talks about her Dutch upbringing and how she "tried out" for the most elite military unit in the world and made it! She explains her specialized training and how she was injured in the war, her recovery and her retirement. She also talks about biting bad guys....YES! She wants everyone to know that she is doing her job and maybe a bite is not as bad as a bullet? She also talks about sacrifice, gratitude, and death. Special Operations Forces (SOF) multi-purpose canines (MPC) are not traditional military working dogs (MWD). Unlike traditional MWDs that have been around since the First World War, SOF MPCs have only been around since 1998 and not publicly known about until around 2005. What makes these dogs so special is the amount of time and training that goes into each dog, usually years before they actually deploy. They are not gate guards, narcotic detectors or single purpose dogs with a few months of training. They are typically patrol and explosive detection dogs that can work off-leash, and make "decisions" without a handler instructing their every move. There is much more to it than that, but this IS a kid's book!The dogs are loved and are valuable assets to the unit and men. They are never sacrificed and every attempt is made to accomplish the mission without harming the dogs. When a dog is MIA or KIA, not only his handler feels the loss but the entire community. The intent of "How I Became a K9 Commando" is to share our love for these dogs, educate the public a bit, and to teach our children about sacrifice and gratitude.
