Should animals be used in modern-day war?

[Miss Meow]

This dolphin supports the USA commander task unit, which searches for mines in shipping lanes.



Do you support the use of animals for such tasks?

On the one hand, an animal may be able to do the job better and reduce the risk of injury and death to humans. On the other hand, should we put animals at risk of death and injury to support activities that perhaps other technology could replace?Do we have a right to bring other species into our battles?

I sit in the latter camp.

[lovemyshiba]

I saw this on the news this morning. While it sounds great, and we all know dolphins are very smart creatures, I do not think we should be endangering their lives.

[RICHARD]

this isn't the first time we have used animals..

during the Viet Nam war dogs were used extensively to detect enemy soldiers, some dogs were able to save their handlers lives, some dogs were wounded and some died. (look into some of those stories, incredible!)

in the end, all dogs were left in Vietnam when the U.S. pulled out.

dolphins are extremely smart and the investment that the gov't. and handlers have put into the training of those dolphins make them extremely valuable to the safety of the soldiers.

i vote yes and no.

[mugsy]

I vote no. If technology can do it why put a living thing in jeopardy?

[aly]

I heard that Morocco was sending over lots of monkeys to search for mines

I think its awful to train animals to do this. Why can't they do it another way. I was in my car when I heard about the monkeys and had to pull over because it made me so upset.

[KYS]

I have mixed feeling about it.
My husband just came in and told me about the Dolphins.
At first I thought it was really cool than I
was concerned.
My husband looked at me and replied,
What is the difference if using Dolphins/with a camera to
find mines, or using dogs for sniffing out bombs or any
other possibly dangerous work?

So I guess he has a point, unless you believe all
animals should not be used for any type of dangerous work.

RICHARD,

I saw the documentary about the war dogs.
I cried my eyes out. Their was not one good reason
why those dogs were left behind.
If I recall their was a sad ending to a famous black lab, that
was left behind.

[kingrattus]

I have no problem with using animals to help people... it sounds like the dolfin is just swiming around & not dragging the mine back to the ship.. but using monkeys is wrong... that is 100% a death wish... using dogs in war is ok too, they have a good chance to live... I didn't hear of the war dogs u guys r talking about I've only heard of the ones that were taken from their homes, trained for war & then returned to their homes...

I want to be a K9 cop, so I have no prob with animal helpers... I know this wasn't a dangerous job for Barny but Barny led Bart around who was blind & they were both dogs... Oh & what about sheep dogs.. they get killed on the job by wolves, & RCMP horses get attacked while the officers r riding them... As long as the animal has the same chance of survival as the human, I'm ok with it... but the poor monkeys!! that is wrong...

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by KYS


RICHARD,

I saw the documentary about the war dogs.
I cried my eyes out. Their was not one good reason
why those dogs were left behind.
If I recall their was a sad ending to a famous black lab, that
was left behind.

there were quite a few tear jerkers in the program.

[luckies4me]

I too saw that documentary, very heartbreaking.


The saddest part was when the one young man had the dogs inthe kennels, and his German Shephard dog was in there when a bomb hit it. He ran over there so fast, even though his life was at risk to make sure his dog was ok.


Did they let all the golden or white dogs go? I know in WW2 didn't they let some of the dogs come home? I don't remember exactly what happened.


THey also did a movie on Animal Planet about a war dog, don't remember what it was called but it was a very good movie.

[RICHARD]

fox news did an excellent story on K-dog, the mine sweeping dolphin last night...very insightful and educating......

what a job they do.....i don't think we have to worry about them being abused or being put in harms way any more than a bomb sniffing dog.....as a matter of fact if i was a dolphin i'd sign up...


at the beach all day, just swimming......

[Logan]

My understanding of the dolphins is that they have the ability to sense the mines without activating them. If they can do this, and save human lives in the process, why wouldn't we want them to? They have vets and many caregivers that provide them safety and good care.

I guess if I have to vote one way or the other, my vote would be yes, in order to save human lives!!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Logan
My understanding of the dolphins is that they have the ability to sense the mines without activating them. If they can do this, and save human lives in the process, why wouldn't we want them to? They have vets and many caregivers that provide them safety and good care.

I guess if I have to vote one way or the other, my vote would be yes, in order to save human lives!!

one scene showed a trainer brushing the dolphins teeth......
the dolphin was leaning up against the edge of the pool with his mouth open getting a teeth cleaning (electric tooth brush to boot!) my mom thought that was one of the funniest things!

when they sense a mine in the water they drop a buoy that marks the spot - then divers swim in to destroy the mine.

[kingrattus]

go dolphins go!!
More dolphins should be used, it would prob. prevent alot of whale deaths aswell & other wayer animals/fish/birds

[HoRsELUvR]

I guess it could prevent other animal deaths,but i think that the dolphins could be put in danger.

[wolfsoul]

NO! This is our fight! The humans' fight! Why should we bring the animals into this?!
Czechoslovakian wolfdogs are being used in European wars and are trained to send messages during times of warfare..




And rats are being used to detect mines




It makes me sad to think of how many of these animals die each day, performing duties for us.