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Army major, Air Force dog retire together

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Holly Brown
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  One of Shaw's military working dogs retired Jan. 17 and went home with the Army Veterinarian Services chief of Fort Jackson, S.C., who will retire March 31. 

Army Maj. Bonnie Martin manages veterinary clinics at Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base and Charleston AFB under the Tennessee District Veterinary Command. Her primary duties are to manage the clinics and take care of the military working dogs at each base. 

In Major Martin's 20 years of service to the Army, she has served three U.S. Army posts, three U.S. Air Force bases and one U.S. Navy base. She has served in South Carolina since 2003. 

Zeus, 20th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, served Shaw AFB for five years. He arrived at Shaw after his training at Lackland AFB, Texas, when he was two years old. 

Zeus' front, right leg was broken in an accident a year ago. After surgery, the leg became infected and broke again. Inevitably, the leg had to be amputated - Major Martin performed the surgery. Zeus' military career had come to an end. 

"His old handler couldn't take him," Major Martin said. "And not just anybody could take him because he has special needs." 

Major Martin spent time working with Zeus during his recovery and decided to adopt him.
"There was a lot of paperwork," she said. "I had to get permission from the commander and approval from a behaviorist in Lackland." 

The 20th SFS sent a video of a standard test to the behaviorist, who decided Zeus was not a danger to anyone. 

"Zeus is known at all the local schools as the three-legged dog from Drug Free Week," said Tech. Sgt. Arthur Sawyer, 20 SFS kennel master. "We started socializing him by taking him to schools, getting him around kids, and he became a mascot." 

All of the socializing was strictly supervised, Sergeant Sawyer said. 

"Zeus is a good boy, he's very easy and friendly," Major Martin said. "He should have no problem having a full and happy life." 

"I'd say Major Martin is the number one candidate to adopt Zeus," Sergeant Sawyer said. 

"She already knows the ins and outs of the military dogs from working with them so much." 

Major Martin's husband, Michael, is also a veterinarian. The Martins also have one cat. 

"The cat's not sure about Zeus yet, but they'll get along," Major Martin said. 

"Zeus plans to chew on his toys and lay by the fire in retirement. I plan to work in the Veterinary Public Health field and will be staying in Columbia, S.C.," she said.