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Robins bomb-sniffing dog killed in Baghdad

An Air Force Security Forces canine trained to sniff out explosives was killed in a Baghdad explosion last month that knocked his handler unconscious.

The 5-year-old Dutch Sheppard named Arras worked with the 78th Security Forces Squadron, based at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and was temporarily assigned to West Baghdad’s Sather Air Base. A memorial service was held Friday at Sather.

According to an Air Force press release, Staff Sgt. Marcus Reaves, also with 78th Security Forces, entered a darkened building with Arras on Sept. 25. Reaves, who had worked with Arras for the last six months of the dog’s 18-month deployment, was working through a typical routine: clearing buildings and searching for weapons or explosives.

As Reaves knelt down to pick up his flashlight, Arras came in contact with live power lines, triggering an explosion that ended his life and tossed Reaves nearly 30 feet from the site.

“When I came to, as a handler, my first instinct was, ‘Where’s my dog?’ I knew the medics were talking to me, but I was just like, ‘I don’t care what y’all are talking about right now. I just need to find my dog,’” Reaves said in the release.

Reaves suffered only minor injuries and has fully recovered.

Arras was also mourned at Robins, where another service will be held later this year. Stateside, the canine had experience running bomb sweeps for the president, vice president and former President Carter.

Staff Sgt. Edward Canell, who trained Arras with the 78th Security Forces, was also quoted in the press release. “It’s just like losing an airman for us,” he said “Dogs don’t ask for anything in return. Just a little bit of love and companionship and they’ll work for you.”