The Boonie dogs of Saipan, Tinian and Rota came from a lineage of war dogs trained and disciplined to assist military personnel during the war.
AS the nation celebrated Memorial Day, Boonie Babies and the Saipan Humane Society reminded the community to also remember the canine heroes who served America during the war.
“Today is a day to be proud of our boonies, descendants from these impressive war dogs. Give your boonie a hug today,” Saipan Humane Society said on Monday.
According to war history and tales passed on from generation to generation, Saipan, Rota and even Tinian’s first boonie or stray dogs were actually military dogs that assisted the U.S. military during the war.
The dogs were “used for various tasks such as bomb sniffing and body recovery; [they also] assisted troops in performing jobs that would otherwise be impossible in Saipan’s thick jungle,” the Boonie Babies stated in a social media post.
“Unfortunately, after the war many of these four-legged heroes were left behind and, over the past decades, have transformed into what we now know and love, Boonies Babies! …
“Although we love our Boonies, we hope to one day never see them again suffering across the islands they helped fight to protect. Happy Memorial Day to all!”
Saipan Humane Society, for its part, said the community should remember that, although these dogs are common on the islands, they are remarkable dogs.
“Their unique intelligence and dispositions set them apart from all other dogs across the world,” SHS stated.
