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Working Like A Dog!

Last year, my sister introduced me to a guy named Perry Baltimore who is the president of the Marshall Legacy Institute. This group raises funds to train dogs like Granite here to sniff our land mines. They are operating in eight countries around the world. After talking to him for just a few minutes, I knew this was a group I want to support.

Land mine detection is a dangerous business, and all too often, a mine is detected when an innocent child (or adult for that matter) steps on it - often years after the conflict that put it in the ground has been settled. The dogs, with their keen sense of smell, are able to pick up the scent of some of the land mine explosives and point their handlers to the location.

It costs about $20,000 to train one of these guys. And that's where the Marshall Legacy comes in.

Founded in 1997, the Marshall Legacy has been helping to train dogs to find the mines. This year, they reached a big milestone when the 101st and 102nd dogs were put into service.

One of their partners is a group called CHAMPS - Children Against Land Mines. Their web site has great information about the dogs, and how they are trained for a job that would be hazardous using old fashioned metal detectors.

Every year at tax time, I am reminded that I need a few more write-offs, and for 2008, one of mine is going to be a check to the Marshall Legacy.

Maybe if I donate a bunch, they'll let me adopt Granite here when he retires! I'm sure he'd love to have a type-A workahaulic real estate broker as his human!

Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 03/07/2008 03:41 PM

Comments (14)

Post is included in group: BLOG FOR A CAUSE

14 Comments on Working Like A Dog!

What a beautiful dog! Sadly the only thing my dog Casey can sniff out is FOOD. She is a Beg A Holic!

03/07/2008 03:44 PM

by James Downing - REALTOR® - Washington DC Real Estate (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

Patricia,

What a great cause, I just emailed your post to my wife, this might be a group we would like to donate to.

03/07/2008 03:50 PM

by Gary Miljour - Mortgage Lending for Tempe Arizona (Cherry Creek Mortgage Company)

Granite, Looks like a great dog for this work. What a wonderful organization. I hope they continue to do well. Maybe your post will inspire even more checks.

03/07/2008 03:54 PM

by Bradenton Florida Real Estate - Dan Forbes (Sarasota Metro Properties)

Way to Blog For A Cause, Pat!

03/07/2008 04:40 PM

by Amanda Hall * Texas Real Estate Broker * (Hall Team Homes )

It is very satisfying to support a group that does good things. There's probably no better way, other than financially, to support them than spreading the word through your blog.

03/07/2008 05:01 PM

by Craig W. Barrett - Hughesville MD Real Estate (RE/MAX 100)

Look at that beautiful dog! Great picture. 'Never heard of this group, and I'm glad to know about it.

03/07/2008 05:20 PM

by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate (RE/MAX VISION)

Pat, That is one Handsome Sniffer. What a wonderful charity to support. I remember Princess Di was very committed to this cause... Where is Granite deployed?

Ginger

03/07/2008 06:36 PM

by Wilmington NC Real Estate Ginger & Roger Sala Keller Williams (Keller Williams Wilmington North Carolina)

I hope so, Pat. What a beautiful dog and they are so good.

03/07/2008 06:41 PM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor)

Patricia - He is indeed beautiful! Hope you get him when he retires! And thanks for the heads up on a worthy place for donations!

03/07/2008 06:46 PM

by Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD (Charles Rutenberg Realty)

I admire the work of these dogs but I have mixed feelings about putting the dogs in harms way. I feel as if people have a choice, animals do not!

03/07/2008 09:13 PM

by The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E

James, Casey just isn't trained to sniff anything but food!

Gary, it would be great to add these guys to your list.

Dan, well, gee! I hope so! Thanks.

Amanda, I just reposted this to your group, which I think is a terrific idea!

Craig, given my pathetic track record as a dog trainer, this and writing a check are the two best things I could do.

Margaret, they use a special breed of dogs, probably mostly German Shepherd, and they are gorgeous.

Ginger,You're right - landmine removal was a huge cause for Princess Diana. And Granite is in Bosnia - they have a lot of dogs there.

Missy, I'm wondering about sinding Willy-the-hyperactive-Labradoodle puppy to see if these guys can train him! These dogs are trained to be multilingual!

Barbara Jo, Granite is my fantasy doggie!

And Gayle, they can smell a land mine way before they get to it, which is much less dangerous than using a metal detector which you have to be pretty much on top of the mine to pick it up. I don't think they've ever lost a snifer dog to a landmine. When the dogs retire, they go to adoptive homes. And, by the way, thousands of people and animals (especially farm animals) are killed every year. So thee dogs protect lots of living creatures.

03/08/2008 09:25 AM

by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company)

Patricia- What a good cause and I am glad you are bringing this to the attention of so many people. Perhaps more people will support this cause. I do have a question, do the animal rights activists protest against this good cause?

03/08/2008 09:59 AM

by Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.)

Great idea, Patricia! This is a win/win! The world's a safer place, and dogs like Granite here, get a job! I have a shepherd mix, and if I don't give him a job, he comes up with his own (like herding the cats!)

03/09/2008 11:48 PM

by Elaine Manes IRIS~Colorado Stager ~ A Wonderful Space, LLC (A Wonderful Space, LLC)

Great post. Its good to know they are still training mine detection dogs.

03/10/2008 02:55 PM

by JenRan Realty, LLC

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