Lesley sat by my side. Some days it's hard to say what a dog is thinking. Today, I know she knows something is different. She's having fun, playing with her jutte, but she knows today is different. I guess I haven't really gotten to know her personally but I knew her in passing. She's always been a happy dog that everyone loved being around. She loved to bite people and she loved to sniff for bombs. She saw some action in the middle east. I guess we all did. It was just something you did during the years we served. Tomorrow, Lesley, will be put down at the age of 12. She served her handlers and her country well. These dogs, they never knew what they did. They never knew they saved their handler's lives. They never knew the lives they saved, but they did. And they were happy. Lesley's still by my side. We'll probably play all night until she's tired. I'll miss her tomorrow. She was such a good dog.

God bless the K-9s. Each and every one.
Anonymous.

Ray Allen is proud to honor fallen K-9's. If you would like to submit your account describing your heroic partner for the Memorial Page, e-mail a picture and your story to: webmaster