The 12-year-old German Shepherd who served in Iraq in 2004 and was the model for the Rancho Coastal Humane Society's Military Working Dog Memorial has died of pancreatic cancer. After her service, Chyba was adopted by billionaire T. Boone Pickens and his wife Madeline. It was Madeline Pickens who helped support the creation of the Military Working Dog Memorial, the only private memorial west of the Mississippi honoring military dogs.
The importance of dogs in the military can't be underestimated. It's been reported that for each military dog on duty, 150 troops' lives are saved. And we've recently learned the crucial role a Belgian Malinois named Cairo played in the Navy SEAL operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
Ten percent of the 4,000 military working dogs throughout the armed services are available for adoption each year. Click here for more information.
KFMB-TV has more on the military tribute that took place this week for Chyba. Get your tissues out:
