Photos: Bomb detection dogs aid troops in Afghanistan
Attack and explosives detection dog Urmel, a Belgian Malinois, works the area near a mud wall in Jilga, in the Arghandab Valley of Kandahar province. With roadside bombs the leading cause of casualties, a small band of military dogs Belgian Malinois, German shepherds and Labradors has joined patrols in southern Afghanistan. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Sgt. Tait Terzo and Urmel examine the site of a roadside blast that knocked down two members of a U.S. patrol in the area. Id trust Urmel over most people, Terzo, his handler, says. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Urmel is treated as “inventory” by the military and is serialized as “L-424” on his collar and also has a tattoo in his ear. I hate to say it, but Id rather lose a dog than a person, as much as it would hurt to lose Urmel, Sgt. Tait Terzo said. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Urmel, a playful and loving dog off-duty, relaxes with troops playing Frisbee during a toss around. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Sgt. Tait Terzo rests again a barrier wall inside his combat outpost after returning from a mission where he experienced his first roadside bomb explosion. He and Urmel had just passed near the bomb site, but Urmel wasn’t close enough to detect it. Two soldiers suffered minor injuries. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Urmel latches on to Army Spc. Marcus Bernardy, wearing a padded jacket as he plays the role of a fleeing suspect. Urmel slammed him to the ground. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Urmel has sniffed out at least 20 bombs or explosive caches in the last year. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)