‘War Dog’ enjoys retirement in Morris County

MORRISTOWN – A K-9 soldier who served two tours overseas – and endured two rounds of chemotherapy when he returned to the U.S. – will be at the Morris Animal Inn today to promote a nonprofit devoted to bringing “war dogs” home.

Sgt. Rowan, a 9-year-old German shepherd, served in the Army for eight years as a bomb and explosive sniffing dog.

Dennis Smarth was a military police officer who transferred to the K-9 unit, where he became Rowan’s handler for his last two years of duty.

Together the two were deployed to tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and also worked stateside, helping to secure areas before the president arrived.

When Smarth retired from the military a few years ago, Rowan joined him, receiving the U.S. Military Dog Service Award for his service.

But when Smarth became a K-9 police officer in Camden, the pair had to part because he could not live with two dogs.

But Susan Serradilla-Smarth, Smarth’s step-mother, quickly stepped in and adopted him into her Dover home.

“Where do all kids go in a situation like that?” Serradilla-Smarth said. “They go to mom.”

Serradilla-Smarth got Rowan around Christmas in 2013 and was ready to pamper him and ease him into retired life. But just two weeks later she found out Rowan had thyroid cancer.

Serradilla-Smarth said it’s common for dogs to return home from war and develop cancers because they don’t have the same protection in combat that their handlers do - like gas masks - because they need to be able to properly use their sense of smell.

After surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy, Rowan is now in remission and gets chest x-rays every three months.

Seradilla-Smarth paid for the first round out of pocket, but soon she found the U. S. War Dogs Association, and they covered the rest of the bill for her.

“Rowan did his job and now we’re doing our job to help him,” Seradilla-Smarth said.

The U.S. War Dog Association is a nonprofit based in New Jersey that supports U.S. Military Working dogs on active duty and once they are home.

Nearly 3,000 Military Patrol Dogs specializing in drug and bomb detection serve in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. They are currently stationed in locations including Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, where they patrol air bases, military compounds, ammunition depots, military check points, lead patrols and clear minefields.

Ron Aiello, president of the U.S. War Dogs Association, served in the Vietnam War with his military working dog Stormy, a German shepherd.

Aiello estimates each military dog saves the lives of between 150 to 200 service men and women during their career, and his organization seeks to make sure they’re taken care of before and after they serve.

The way the law is currently written, the Department of Defense may bring dogs home once they retire but are not required to do so, and some do fall through the cracks.

Aiello said the U.S. War Dogs Association brings home about 25 dogs per year for handlers who cannot afford to do so. These travel costs can be as high as $3,000, he said.

The organization also cares for the dogs once they are home, providing money for veterinary care and prescription medication to keep them healthy and pain free.

Seradilla-Smarth said Rowan suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and loud noises like fireworks, car backfires and thunder cause him to freeze up and shake.

But Rowan remains an energetic and friendly dog, who Seradilla-Smarth keeps active and stimulated. The pair are raising money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and also regularly visit a nursing home in Parsippany.

Rowan will be at the Morris Animal Inn in Morristown from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today to kick off “Operation: War Dogs,” a campaign to bring home U.S. military war dogs and support active military dog teams.

The campaign will directly benefit the United States War Dogs Association by both raising funds to bring home dogs and collecting items for care packages to send to active military dog teams deployed worldwide.

“This way we will help active dogs and those who have already done their duty,” said Deborah Montgomery, marketing manager for Morris Animal Inn.

The Operation: War Dogs campaign will run through Labor Day at Morris Animal Inn, kicked off by Rowan’s appearance. He will be available for photos and a meet and greet.

“Our goal is to raise funds to bring home as many retired military war dogs as possible,” said Joanne Morris, vice president of Morris Animal Inn. “They’ve served heroically on the battlefield and our four-legged veterans deserve to return to the homeland as well. We also want to support military war dogs deployed today by collecting care package items.”

Monetary donations can made online at http://www.morrisanimalinn.com/war-dogs/ or mailed to Morris Animal Inn, 120 Sand Spring Road, Morristown, N.J. 07960. Checks can be made payable to Mission K9 Rescue, the War Dogs chapter coordinating the transport of military dogs. All money donated will go to Operation: War Dogs.

People who donate up to $24 will receive a patriotic bandanna, between $25 and $99 will receive a towel or dog tag, and those who donate more than $100 will receive a $20 gift card for the Morris Animal Inn.

Items needed for care packages can also be found on Morris Animal Inn’s website and can be delivered or mailed to Morris Animal Inn.

Go to www.uswardogs.org to learn more about the U.S. War Dogs Association.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com