Amazon Paws to Protect Category:  Military Publisher: Alyson Books ISBN-10:  1593500948 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 280 Copyright: December 1, 2008 ISBN-13: 9781593500948 Paws to Protect is packed with true stories about the strong bonds that form between war dogs, police dogs, and Search and Rescue dogs and their handlers as they work together in dangerous situations. Dogs have never been so widely used to protect human society as they are today. There are dogs on nearly every police force in the nation, working in immigration, customs, and fire departments—even for the IRS. Dogs are bomb sniffers, guardians, sentries, and arson detectors. They track live people and discover the dead. At border crossings and airports, they sniff for drugs, bombs, and contraband. They act as scouts, trackers, messengers, minefield clearers, booby trap detectors, tunnelers, water patrollers, lifeguards, and explosive seekers. The president of the United States goes nowhere until the Secret Service has had dogs probe the area he will visit. Through keenly drawn and thoughtful coverage of a subject often featured on news agencies’ front pages, Paws to Protect goes to the heart of the ancient dog-human relationship. Many stories in this volume will thrill readers as they cite the heroism of these animals, while others stories will tug at readers’ hearts. Dogs are tireless and faithful workers, and they don’t ask for much in return. Compassionate without being sentimental, Sakson’s Paws to Protect is straightforward, thorough, and well documented.

This book is stunning, you can't put it down
You might think we know all there is to know about police and military dogs, they go out and protect officers and find bombs and things like that. Wrong! There is an incredible amount that goes into every dog -- and it all has a historical basis, which I loved. There are Collies who blew up Russian tanks, a Yorkie who saved a Pacific airport, a Pit Bull who got his unit away from a gas bomb and then nearly died as a result. There are stories in here that will make you cry, not because they are sad but because the effort and determination that the dogs put into saving their people is overwhelming. Really, if you start reading this, it will keep you up all night. It's that good.

Dogs save lives every day, in Iraq and the US
This book tells so many interesting stories about dogs protecting people and finding explosives, arsonists, drugs and Mediterranean fruit flies that you don't want to put it down. I meant to read just a little every night but found myself totally caught up in it and reading until 3 a.m.! My favorite is the story of the Yorkshire Terrier who worked to win World War II in the Pacific. Also the story of the dog who barked all the way to the Iraqi villages and wouldn't shut up until he started searching. Also the story of the dog who caught Germans entering on the beach during World War II. Also the story of the people who train constantly to be part of Search and Rescue and get up in the middle of the night to find lost children. This is a very inspiring and touching book.