Origins

 

 

 

When we founded our own team in October, 2005 we were casting about for the perfect team name. Many of us had raced with Nor Cal's Frequent Flyers in the past, and trained under Donna Seigmund. She had dreamed of having her own Border Collie team named Strike Force. Heaven knows, she had enough Border Collies! We lost Donna to cancer on April 15, 2005. To honor Donna's dream, and her love of flyball, we became Strike Force Flyball Racing Club. Donna, we miss you, and thank your for your legacy!

 

 

Military Working Dogs

Military Working Dog
Bruno in Germany

 

OPERATION TOP DOG   Military Working Dogs in Viet Nam

In July, 1965, a sapper (Vietcong combat engineer) raid against Da Nang Air Base resulted in heavy damage and casualties. This was just one of many incidences of infiltration by Vietcong troops on U. S. installations. The VC had once again managed to enter the base, past armed security guards and electronic detectors.

Two days after this latest enemy penetration at Da Nang, the U. S. Air Force launched "Operation Top Dog". Forty Military Working Dogs and handlers were deployed to Viet Nam for a four-month tour. Arriving in Viet Nam the teams were deployed to Tan Son Nhut and Bien Hoa air base near Saigon also to Da Nang air base near the DMZ.

The penetrations of the air base perimeters were stopped cold by these K9 teams. In fact the operation was so successful that the Air Force continued to expand the Military Working Dog program in South East Asia to unprecedented numbers. During the ten plus years of this combat operation almost 4,000 military Working Dogs served with distinction and valor in South East Asia.

Our Strike Force Flyball Club wanted to use the title "Operation Top Dog" for our tournament because of the obvious tie to our club name but also to honor the military Working Dogs past and present.

Rick Marty 4/28/07

 

It's Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile.... because they "just don't understand."

 - Anonymous