66 SFS retires two faithful defenders

  • Published
  • By Lisa Spilinek
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- --  Two Military Working Dogs assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron will officially retire Aug. 10 during a joint ceremony. 

Johnny and Cody protected the lives of base employees and visitors alike as well as helped in fighting the Global War on Terror through multiple deployments. Both dogs are being retired because of health issues. 

MWD Johnny 

Military Working Dog Johnny, an explosives detection canine, entered the active-duty Air Force in 2000 after serving in the Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to protecting the men and women of Hanscom, Johnny's active duty service called for him to deploy to Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan in support of the Global War on Terror. 

Johnny's expertise was also called upon by the U.S. Secret Service to protect the President, Vice President and foreign dignitaries at the United Nations, said Tech. Sgt. Lawrence Gray, 66 SFS kennel master. 

While many of the animals Sergeant Gray has worked with have shown outward aggression in some form or another, Johnny has remained approachable during his years as a bomb dog performing vehicle searches and random antiterrorism measures here. 

These sentiments where echoed by both Johnny's trainer Tech. Sgt. Dennis Dolce, 66 SFS, and his previous handler, Staff Sgt. Adam Barraclough, 66 SFS, "Johnny always is willing to work and please his handler," they said. "He's put his life on the line numerous times and he deserves to live out the rest of his life with the best quality of life possible." 

Recently the future didn't look so bright for Johnny. 

"While exercising outside the kennel area, Johnny tore the cranial cruciate ligament in his left knee," said Dr. Heather Mazzaccaro, Hanscom Veterinarian. To best correct this injury, he needed a "Tibal Plateau Leveling Osteotomy surgery, which cost approximately $2,600," she said. 

The Army Veterinary Corps does not have a surgeon certified to perform the procedure. The Hanscom Veterinary Clinic, in conjunction with the 66 SFS, felt that bringing Johnny to the Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Mass., which agreed to do the procedure at cost, was the best option to guarantee his quality of life. 

"We [the military] do not have the expertise [certified surgeon] at this point to give him the best quality of life for retirement," Dr. Mazzaccaro said, "It was a decision by us here, my command and the kennel staff that we'd like to give Johnny the best." 

An organization stepped forward to help Johnny's adopted owner, Sergeant Barraclough, pay for the medical care Johnny needed. Operation Troop Support, a local military non-profit organization (with a mission of helping servicemembers) chaired by Dick Moody, a retired Army officer, caught wind of Johnny's need. The organization rushed into action to raise the necessary funding. 

At Tufts, 10-year-old Johnny received an intense, specialized surgery in which his hind leg was broken and the angle of his knee reset to alleviate pressure on the knee. After undergoing the TPLO, Johnny was back on his feet within days. A full recovery is expected in two to three months, Dr. Mazzaccaro said. 

Despite his recovery, Johnny still suffers from hypothyroidism and arthritis in his hips. These ailments along with his age and the knee injury make retirement necessary. He was adopted by his most recent handler, Sergeant Barraclough.

 "Johnny is now doing better than before the surgery -- he's running and jumping now. I am happy to have him by my side," Sergeant Barraclough said. 

MWD Cody 

Another canine member of the 66 SFS will retire with Johnny. Cody was born in February 2000 and entered the Air Force in 2001. 

Upon completion of Military Working Dog Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Cody was assigned to Hanscom on April 5, 2001, said his current handler, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Tomkiewicz, 66 SFS. 

"He successfully accomplished all tasks that we taught with no problems whatsoever during his initial training," Sergeant Tomkiewicz said. "Cody served with great faith and pride in all of his assigned tasks." 

Not only did Cody protect Hanscom as an explosives detection patrol canine, he provided protection for several national leaders including the President and First Lady, Vice President and the CIA Director. 

Proving his worth at home and abroad, Cody was among the first Airmen deployed to the front lines in Baghdad when the war in Iraq kicked off. Cody also dutifully deployed to Qatar and Kuwait.

"Everyone who came in contact with Cody just loved the dog," said Sergeant Tomkiewicz, who said that while he and Cody were participating in Silver Flag, an Air Force exercise held at Nellis AFB, Nev., a dog trainer recognized Cody as "that little dog" he had encountered during a previous deployment. 

The trainer described to Sergeant Tomkiewicz a particularly memorable event when Cody, demonstrating a vibrant spirit, chased after a rabbit while in the Area of Responsibility and ended up getting caught up in Concertina wire. Despite being cut by the wire and needing medical attention, Cody's demeanor stayed positive. 

Sergeant Tomkiewicz, who was assigned to Cody in April 2005, said the two had a "rocky start trying to figure each other out.

"Once we did, however, things were smooth from there and we had an enjoyable career together with a lot of great memories," he said. 

While Cody still demonstrates a positive attitude, his health has been deteriorating. 

"Cody has been diagnosed with a large tumor located in the right frontal lobe of his brain," Dr. Mazzaccaro said. "This tumor caused Cody to have a cluster of seizures that were brought under control with anti-seizure medication. Since Cody has been on this medication he has been seizure free." 

Despite the medication, Cody's health is expected to continue to deteriorate as the tumor grows. 

"At this time, Cody is not suffering and is not in any pain," Dr. Mazzaccaro said. Because Cody's condition is terminal and will continue to negatively affect his quality of life, he will be humanely euthanized. 

"What has happened lately with Cody's medical problem and the necessary outcome of what must happen, saddens me greatly," Sergeant Tomkiewicz said. "I will miss him very much and he will never be forgotten as long as I live." 

Members of the 66 SFS will remember Cody and Johnny as true companions and vital assets to the mission of Security Forces, Sergeant Gray said. 

"Cody and Johnny both served the Air Force and the American people faithfully. They will be missed," he said. 

(Capt. Martha L. Petersante-Gioia contributed to this article.)