On the last day of his Vietnam tour of duty, U.S. Army veteran Mike Monahan had a bittersweet experience. He was finally going home to his family, but he had to permanently say goodbye to his K9 partner Chico.
Needlessly killed
For more than a year, the trained dog joined them during their patrols. His job was to warn his team about tripwires and other dangers. Chico was so great at his tasks that he even saved Mike’s life more than once.
What was terrible about the day he left is that he knew that Chico would not be returning to the U.S. Most of the dogs that served in the Vietnam War were euthanized. The U.S. military did not want to have to bring them back.
Ever since that day, Mike has felt guilty about leaving his best friend behind. In honor of Chico, he published a book with a unique perspective. it was written based on the dog’s point of view and experiences.
Chico’s story
The German Shepherd was born and raised with a family in North Carolina. As he grew up, the family noted that he was overprotective and seemed aggressive at times. They saw his nature as a perfect fit for military service so they volunteered him.
Chico was sent to Fort Benning in Georgia where he underwent scout dog training. When he graduated he was immediately shipped to Vietnam. That is when Mike and the skilled dog met. Ever since then, the two became best friends.
50,000 dogs
Mike said that part of the proceeds from the book would be used to save 5,000 dogs. 1,000 for each year since they said their goodbyes. Aside from the proceeds, a GoFundMe page has been put up and it has already exceeded its target of 35,000 dollars.
The money will then be used to cover adoption fees and other costs so that many shelter dogs could find their forever homes.
Photo source: via kickstarter