Military working dog meets former trainer at Lemoore Naval Air Station

LEMOORE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Paws of War reunited a military working dog with his former trainer at Naval Air Station Lemoore on Monday.

Carlos Arana and military training dog Donnie spent three years together in Norfolk, Virginia, before Aranda was transferred to Naval Air Station Lemoore last year.

“As a new handler in the Navy, you don’t really know much. They give you a dog that knows what he’s doing and has been around a lot of handlers,” Araneda said. “He really helped me become the handler I am today. He really showed me how it’s done. I know it’s crazy to have a dog show me that.”

After Aranda’s departure, Donnie suffered a leg injury in the line of duty that forced the military to medically retire him last month.

Over the course of his career, Donnie conducted thousands of explosives searches, some of them as security for the President of the United States.

When Aranda heard that Donnie was being retired for medical reasons, he called Paws for War and asked for help in adopting Donnie.

“I called them, they answered on the first ring and were immediately ready to help.”

Nicki Dawson was part of the team that drove Donnie across the country from Norfolk.

She says this is just the first part of a lifelong commitment they have made to Donnie.

“They are either medically retired or of advanced age and can no longer perform their duties. This means they have to pay high veterinary bills. We will provide medical care and food for the rest of their lives, which is very important,” Dawson said.

If you would like to donate to help Paws of War continue its mission, you can do so here.

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