MCLB makes the news again...K9 dies of Heat stroke

Cpl Dustin J. Lee and MWD Lex's old kennel are in the news again. This time it's because of a death of one of it's canines due to negligence of one of the dog handlers stationed on the base. Although it is a Marine Corps Kennel on a Marine Corps Base, it is now run primarily by civilian contract workers.

The dog died of heat stroke after hours of being locked in a vehicle in the baking Georgia sun. Nothing like coming back fro a tour in the Sand Box and coming back here and dieing of a heat stroke because of an idiot handler
The following text is taken from the Albany Herald's website, article by Susan McCord.

ALBANY — A military working dog left inside a police vehicle for four hours May 6 at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany died from heatstroke, the results of an investigation released Friday found.
The body of Dax, a 5-year-old German shepherd, was examined by a Fort Benning military veterinarian who determined the dog’s cause of death to be heatstroke, MCLB officials said in a statement.

Assigned to a handler with MCLB’s civilian police force, Dax was left inside a police vehicle for approximately four hours the afternoon of May 6, Public Affairs Officer Lt. Caleb Eames said.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dax’s death revealed “a lack of diligence in carrying out assigned duties by two civilian government employees,” the statement said.

One employee had transported Dax and another dog to a training site, while Dax’s handler drove a different vehicle with supplies to the site, the statement said. After training, the same driver returned to the kennels, but only removed one dog, leaving Dax inside.

Dax’s handler assumed the first handler had removed him from the vehicle, the statement said.

Four hours later when someone noticed the dog was missing, Dax’s body was found inside the vehicle, Eames said.

“The command has implemented punitive administrative action against the two employees,” and the working dog section has undergone refresher training “to ensure that this does not happen in the future,” the statement said.

The names of the employees, whom Eames stated continue to be employed as MCLB police officers, cannot be released under the federal Privacy Act of 1947, Eames said.

No criminal charges have been filed against them, he said.

Dax had been assigned to MCLB for two years and 11 months and was trained in explosives detection and patrol, Eames said.

He had completed one six-month tour in Iraq, returning to MCLB in November, Eames said.

“This is a very sad time for us,” he said. “The military working dog section was very distraught after this happened. The relationship between the handlers and the dogs is very strong. It’s a close bond they develop, and to have one of the dogs be lost is a tragic event.”

Dax was one of several dogs assigned to MCLB. Lex, a military working dog, was adopted in December by the family of his Marine Corps handler, Cpl. Dustin Lee. Lee was killed and Lex was wounded during a rocket attack in Iraq in March 2006.

Volunteering information about the investigation to the media, base officials want the public to know that Dax’s death has been taken seriously and sufficient action has been taken to make sure dogs at MCLB receive proper care, Eames said.

Dax’s death will not slow the work of military dogs aboard MCLB, he said.

“We have a sufficient number of dogs to continue the mission of securing the base,” he said.

------------end of article

Photos of Lex injured in Iraq

The following photos are of Lex at the hospital where he was taken after the incident that killed Cpl Lee.
The photos are coutesy of Joshua Hall an Army Medic, Sgt USAR USARC.
Thank you Sgt Hall for the photos

A comment from Sgt Hall-
" When he rolled in, which I believe was march 22nd, according to the image
I was on in the ER @ AL Asad(TF399 CSH)...such a friendly pooch, he instantly had everyones affection
and of course everyone's feeling of sadness once we had learned why he was there.
Im glad he made it back to the family, its amazing in retrospect to think how it all came to be.
It seems like just yesterday we were scrambling through the emergency room for a bowl."


Sgt Joshua Hall USAR USARC with Lex


The guy in the black top is SSG Jeffrey Thivierge and the guy in short sleeve ACUs is Spc Ben Snowman

PHOTOS OF LEX ADOPTION CEREMONY Dec 21, 2007

Lex's retirement and adoption ceremony went great. The weather turned out to be perfect for the ceremony and all the media. I sincerely thank everyone that made this ceremony possible. You could see in Lex's eyes that he knew who this family was. He knew that he was being reunited with his slain handler's family. This family loves this dog with all their heart and will take care of him; giving him a warm home, a soft bed, food, and most important, all the love that they have in their hearts. This event has really brought some joy and comfort to their lives. Lex willnot replace but only help to heal the wounds, the grief, and the heartache of the loss of their son and brother.

Words can not express the feeling that I had as I witness this event take place. I am only happy to be able to be a part of it.
There where many people that helped to make it happen and there where some rough patches along the way, but all the matters right now is that this dog is with this family.


Although more is still happening in Albany as I update this bog (Saturday, Dec 22, 2007). We where unable to stay the entire weekend. The Patriot Guard riders will be escorting the family back to Quitman MS today. Thank you guys for taking care of the family!
Photos where taken by Lisa lang at Lex's adoption ceremony

Thank You

WOW! Its been a busy and exciting day today.
Thank you all who helped to push this effort through the right channels. Before all of you got involved we where hitting dead ends and starting to lose hope of adopting Lex. With your help we went beyond the local level and got the information in the right hands.

Thank you John Burnam for you knowledge of MWD laws and many phone calls and interviews. Your letter written from the perspective of Lex was wonderful and a needed addition to our cause. We would not have gotten the story to Congressman Jones without your help.

Thank you Kelly and Ricky Hooker of Discover Canine for your help networking, your compassion for Lex and the Lee family and your professional adivce on MWDS.

Thank You Congressman Jones for your steadfast conviction to helping us accomplish our goal of adopting Lex. We could not have done it with out you. You never gave up the fight and pushed back at times when we could not.
Thank you so much for representing Lex, Dustin, and the Lee family in this effort. North Carolina is lucky to have an elected official such as yourself.

I would also like to give a large Thank You to everyone who signed the petition. All of your names made our case so much stronger.

Thank you MCLB Albany for doing the right thing. Semper Fi
-Brian Rich



As suggested in a comment on the blog, I too strongly suggest that
everyone send Congressman Jones of NC a wonderful Thank You Letter.

His address is:
Congressman Walter B. Jones
2333 Rayburn, HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3303

IT'S OFFICIAL - LEE FAMILY GETS LEX!

AP- SAVANNAH, Ga. - Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee and his German shepherd, Lex, scoured Iraq for roadside bombs together, slept next to each other and even posed in Santa hats for a holiday photo....

FOX NEWS
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Dec12/0,4670,SlainMarineapossDog,00.html

CBS
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/13/ap/national/main3613409.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3613409

CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/12/13/slainmarine.sdog.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22226183/

ABC
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3992538

NEWSWEEK
http://www.newsweek.com/id/77725

BREIT BART
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8TGB0LO2&show_article=1

CONSERVATIVE VOICE
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/ap/article.html?mi=D8TGB0LO2&apc=9001

MARINE CORPS TIMES
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/marine_dog_adoption_071212/

Marine Corps Times Article

North Carolina Sun-Journal

It's a start