ANZAC Day done differently for soldiers and army dogs

Explosive Detection Dogs Dex and Echo usually march with their handlers in the city for ANZAC Day but this year the commemoration will be done from Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

EXPLOSIVE Detection Dogs Dex and Echo usually march with their handlers in the city for ANZAC Day but this year the commemoration will be done from Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The army dogs, who are trained to detect hidden explosives in a range of different environments to ensure the safety of their soldiers in the field, are among the most trusted companions of military personnel both overseas and domestically.

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Dex, 6, and Echo, 4, who were saved from a NSW pound and a Cairns backyard, have previously marched in ANZAC Day commemorations but this year, they will spend the day with their handlers Sappers Mason Revell and Caelan Wake.

“We’ll spend the day with the dogs here and reflect in our own way … Dex has marched every year since his first year,” Spr Revell said.
“It’s definitely safer (to have Anzac Day cancelled) – it’s not like its being forgotten about, it’s just people are remembering in their own individual way,” Spr Wake said.

Mason Revell with explosive detection dog Dex at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. Picture: Richard Walker

The EDDs, which are predominantly rescue dogs, participate in major events such as the Commonwealth Games and events at The Gabba and Suncorp Stadiums and spend their days searching vehicles, buildings or areas for training.

After a morning run of about six kilometres, the dogs have a break before a training scenario is set up.

“We try and do different searches like of a vehicle, area or building … Usually we won’t know where it is as well so we’re also testing ourselves and our search skills and so we’ll so a search then back for lunch and do another search in the afternoon or some more training,” Spr Wake said.

The dogs are treated to the same medical care and evacuation procedures as soldiers, with ADF policy mandating all overseas working dogs return to Australia.

ANZAC Day services have been cancelled in parts of the country over the years because of terrorism fears and the Spanish flu in 1919, however the annual event is promised to still go ahead this weekend on a community level with several technological ways to commemorate including online recordings of The Last Post.