On March 13, 1942, the U.S. Army launched their first K-9 Corps. The War Dog Program was begun by a breeder, Alene Erlanger, who knew the importance of adding dogs for guard duty, as messengers, and to sniff out dangers. The first dogs were pets donated to the military for the war. Afterward, a California vet fought to send the dogs home. He instituted a program to de-militarize the dogs, and many returned to their families.
