Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DOGS FOR DEFENSE
DOGS FOR DEFENSE. During WORLD WAR II, dogs were needed for sentry duty. With hopes of securing 125,000 dogs, the Quartermaster Corps. turned to Dogs for Defense, Inc. a New York City organization. This group was charged with obtaining the dogs which were then turned over to the Quartermaster Deport for training. The only requirements for the animals were that they had to be between one and five years of age, stand 18 inches high at the shoulder and be neither gun nor storm shy. (1)
Iowans interested in offering their dogs for war duty cold contact the canine branch at the Iowa Office of the Dogs For Defense (DFD)in Davenport. (2)
The first dog to be offered for service was "Duchess," a two years old Doberman belonging to the family of Mr. and Mrs. John Armstrong. Used on the Russian front, the dogs ran under gunfire to the sides of large German tanks where they deposited explosives and then ran away as the tank exploded. (3) The second dog from Dubuque to be involved in the training was "Rusty," a 95-pound Doberman owned by William F. Vander Muelen. The dog was taken to Davenport a few days after "Duchess" for six to ten weeks of training to qualify him for service. (4)
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Source:
1. "125,000 Dogs Asked by U.S.," Telegraph Herald, August 11, 1942, p. 5
2. "Set Up Headquarters to Enlist Iowa Dogs," Telegraph-Herald, November 19, 1942, p. 23
3. "Dubuque Dog to Join Army," Telegraph Herald, July 12, 1942, p. 1
4. " 'Rusty' First Dubuque Dog Accepted by Army," Telegraph Herald, July 27, 1942, p. 3
