The Coast Guard has a new program guaranteed to make the tails of its military working dogs wag.
During Chief Petty Officer Feco’s retirement ceremony Friday held by members of the Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco on Base Alameda, California, a representative from the non-profit Coast Guard Mutual Assistance announced the creation of the Retired Working Animal Medical Expenses Grant program.
“Affectionately known as the WAG program, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance will provide for the continued medical care of retired Coast Guard working dogs for their lifetime,” explained Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Chief Development Officer Alena Howard in a release.
The new program will cover veterinary care, insurance costs, and cremation for retiring Coast Guard working animals thanks to a gift from Maureen Manning in memory of her parents, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Alfred and Claire Manning, and her own Vizsla, Sandy.
The ceremony marked Feco’s retirement from the Coast Guard after eight years of distinguished service. The nine-year-old Hungarian Vizsla joined the MSST San Francisco Canine Explosive Detection Team in 2014. Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Sumner has served as Feco’s lead handler since 2014.
“Even when faced with adversity, Feco always did his job,” said Sumner, who will be adopting Feco following his retirement. “When he had a fungal infection and the two options were to put him down or get surgery that could kill him, Feco made it through the surgery, then passed three required evaluations to remain certified and continued serving our country.”
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Together the pair have participated in and provided security for more than 1,500 events. Sumner said a highlight of Feco’s career was providing security for high-profile gatherings and protecting hundreds of thousands of lives at events including multiple NFL Super Bowls, Major League Baseball games, multiple Fleet Week engagements, golf tournaments, and conducting security sweeps for heads of state including presidential and U.S. Supreme Court members’ motorcades.
The Coast Guard has 18 CEDTs around the country consisting of a handler and a working dog per team. Coast Guard canines undergo a multi-month training regimen at the Transportation Security Administration’s National Explosives Detection Canine Program on Joint Base San Antonio before being matched with their handlers. Feco learned to detect 25 different odors that could signal a potential threat to the public during his 15 weeks of training before being matched with Sumner.
Feco was presented the Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal earlier this year during a ceremony in Washington D.C. Members of Congress recognized and honored six animal heroes for their accomplishments during the second annual Animals in War and Peace Medal ceremony.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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