New working dog facility opens

Published May 20, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Nicole Leidholm
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Security Forces Squadron held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the grand opening of the new military working dog facility Monday.

Members of Travis and local law enforcement agencies gathered for the unveiling.

"We are gathered here not only to celebrate the opening of our new facility but Police Week as well," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Smith, 60th SFS kennel master.

After more than seven years of planning and six months of design, construction crews broke ground last March on what is now the new home of the base's MWD program. The 3,300-square-foot facility valued at approximately $1.6 million is set across the street from the base's veterinary clinic.

The MWD's previous 1,800-square-foot home, which was intended to be temporary, had unsuitable living conditions for the dogs.

"The current facility doesn't meet hygiene requirements," said David Haven, Navy Resident Officer in Charge of Construction engineer who helped design the new facility.

The temporary home proved to be permanent. The 60th SFS handlers made do for themselves and for the dogs at the current facility since 1988.

"The other facility was supposed to be used as a temporary facility," said Col. Doug Bugado, 60th Mission Support Group commander. "They were there longer and longer and civil engineering helped keep it maintained as best they could."

The new kennels house all nine dogs and their handlers. The facility features an exam room will help with routine examination for the dogs including teeth cleaning and visual check ups. The MWDs new home also includes an office for training as well as a multipurpose room for meetings and more. A larger kitchen will allow for a food preparation area for the dogs, which receive special diets. A quarantine area will serve as a safe place for dogs returning from deployment or for dogs visiting Travis from other bases.

"These kennels are world class," said Lt. Col. Enrico Vendetti, 60th SFS commander. "These dogs and their handlers are the single best thing to see on a mission. Our first-class dogs needed a world-class facility."

Adjacent to the facility is a 150 foot by 150 foot grass obedience training course as well as three outdoor rest areas.

"Each dog goes through intense training as a puppy at Lackland (Air Force Base, Texas)," Bugado said. "They continue their training when they arrive at station and even real world deployments."

Because they are trained to be alpha dogs, the canines are not supposed to see one another. To help with this, the new facility's kennel has multiple entryways.

"These top of the line kennels were made by people who know dogs and had dogs in mind," Bugado said.

The ceremony concluded with a tour of the new facility and a demonstration of the MWDs capabilities.