Sgt. Sara Gregrow, 23, hugs her partner Meister, a two-year-old German shepherd, as she answes questions Thursday about their jobs as a military working dog team during a demonstration for students at Bechtel Elementary School on Camp McTureous, Okinawa. Gregrow said that seeing a similar demonstration when she was 12 inspired her to become a military-working-dog handler. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Sgt. Sara Gregrow, 23, hugs her partner Meister, a two-year-old German shepherd, as she answes questions Thursday about their jobs as a military working dog team during a demonstration for students at Bechtel Elementary School on Camp McTureous, Okinawa. Gregrow said that seeing a similar demonstration when she was 12 inspired her to become a military-working-dog handler. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Five-year-old Amor sits in front of a hat to indicate to Cpl. Matthew Pendleton, his handler, that he has found the "drugs" during a demonstration Thursday for students at Bechtel Elementary School. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Meister, a two-year-old German shepherd military working dog, chases Lance Cpl. Dustin Villalobos and drags him to the ground. Villalobos, a military-working-dog handler, admitted that even with the "bite suit" on, he still feels a little fear before the dogs chomp down: "There's a lot of pressure in their bite." (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Meister shares a quiet moment Thursday with his handler, Sgt. Sara Gregrow, during a pause between demonstrations. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Many of the students at Bechtel Elementary School raised their hands when military-working-dog handlers asked if they had pets at home. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
CAMP McTUREOUS, Okinawa — Students at Bechtel Elementary School had a break from classes Thursday to see some four-legged crime-busters in action.
During three demonstrations, military dog handlers from the Provost Marshal’s Office at Camp Foster showed just how smart and capable Meister and Amor, two military working dogs, can be when it comes to fighting crime.
The children cheered at the most vivid example of the dogs’ skills — the take-down of a fleeing suspect — but handlers also discussed and demonstrated how the dogs are used to search for bombs and drugs.
One caution to the children was that though the dogs are “pretty, if you see us out and about, we ask that you stay away from us because the dogs are highly trained and we don’t want anyone to get hurt,” said Cpl. Matthew Pendleton, 22, Amor’s handler.
