Karen, one of our best Customs Service dogs here bounced in & out of an animal shelter 3 times before he was recruited...he was too lively in the homes he went to.
Our friends donated their GSD to the air force. They live in an urban area, the parents worked long hours in professions & their son was away at boarding school. They thought their young, intelligent, alert GSD was not happy in this lifestyle. The air force tested the dog & he had a wonderful time doing all the test activities & he passed with flying colours. Our friends were invited to their ex-dog's air force graduation ceremony. He was jumping out of his skin with eagerness in his new career. He had a lovely young air force officer as his handler...to whose family he would eventually be retired.
We hate war here, too, but greatly honour those who serve in battle to protect others who are vulnerable. I was a tiny baby during World War 2 when south-east asia & the pacific islands were invaded in an aggressive war by japan. It was americans fighting alongside australians & new zealanders who stopped the advance right on our shores. Now I teach lovely young japanese people among my students at a college here.