MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE Fla. -- Patrol and detection; it is a job that Zoran, a military working dog, takes seriously. For the past seven years, he fulfilled his duty with the 6th Security Forces Squadron and retired March 31, 2017.
Zoran, a German Shepard born August 2008, completed training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He arrived at MacDill AFB, Florida, in 2010, and continued his training with local military working dog handlers.
They described Zoran as dedicated and always on alert.
“Zoran is protective of his handler and vehicle,” said Senior Airman Dameion Morris, a military working dog handler assigned to the 6th SFS. “He draws a red line further or closer to him when we are around people and gauges how close people can get to me.”
Zoran served twice overseas during his time as a working dog.
“During his service, Zoran has deployed to Afghanistan and Oman and transferred to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to end his final years as a MWD,” said Morris.
Mission K-9 will pick-up Zoran and take him to their location in Houston, Texas, to live out his retirement.
According to Mission K-9 their mission is to serve retired MWDs, contract working dogs, and other K-9s who need to be rescued, re-united, re-homed, rehabilitated and repaired.
“Often, retired working dogs have been in situations that can cause them severe anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder,” said a representative from Mission K-9. “They need time with us to decompress and reintegrate into society.”
The MWD team is sad to see Zoran go, but are glad he is going to a good home.
“He is going to love it at Mission K-9,” said Morris. “These dogs work hard and it’s great to have a community that rehabilitates the dog and provides them a good home.”