MWD Cherry retires after 10 years of service

  • Published
  • By Airman Hannah Bean
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Military Working Dog Cherry retired Aug. 24. on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, after serving more than 10 years in the Air Force.

Cherry worked as an explosive detector dog with the 14th Security Forces Squadron.

“She really enjoyed her job,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Price, 14th SFS MWD trainer. “She works really well to where just about anybody from the section can go in and she would work with them. Her reliability and flexibility with being able to go to a different handler makes a fairly easy transition.”

Aside from being very dedicated and good her job, Cherry is also very personable and enjoys being around people.

“She’s full of life,” said Senior Airman Raymond Dwoznik, 14th SFS MWD handler. “She’s very excited just to have people around, but she’s also eager to do her job. As soon as you give her a command, she does it pretty much perfect every time.”

During her career, Cherry deployed and utilized her abilities in multiple situations. In 2012, she went to Qatar to help detect improvised explosive devices. In 2016-2017 she went to Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia and supported the secretary of defense.

Between deployments, Cherry was diagnosed with Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus.

GDV is a rapidly progressive life-threatening condition where the dog’s stomach fills with gas, causing bloating, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. The stomach can then possibly twist upon itself so that both the entrance and exit of the stomach become blocked. The swollen stomach can limit blood circulation and requires immediate veterinary attention or even emergency surgery to save the dog's life.

“She almost died,” Price said. “She had to have emergency surgery and the vets didn’t think she’d make a full recovery, but she did and she got back to full duty. She’s a very, very resilient dog.”

After surviving a tough medical situation and being able to serve the Air Force once again, Cherry was retired and will live with one of her former handlers. The retirement of MWD’s is not a common occurrence and the 14th SFS said they are happy to see her able to start living a normal life.

“I hope that she has a long and comfortable life, sitting on a couch and being pampered,” Price said. “She deserves it.”