Fused, deployment ready

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - --  When some dogs have major surgery it usually means an end to life as they knew it. But in Jampy's case, a 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, it's back on the road again, staring down a deployment to the Middle East.

Jampy, 10, was diagnosed with a degenerative disc disease in February 2006. In April 2006, he had surgery and received two pins and four screws in the pelvic bones to stabilize his lower back. Jampy was selected for the surgery due to his value to the Air Force.

"The Air Force purchased Jampy for about $5,000 and now he's worth more than $50,000," said Jampy's partner, Staff Sgt. John Pillarella, 56th SFS military working dog handler. "So it made sense to do the operation."

Jampy remained at the dog center for recovery and rehabilitation located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, through June 2006 and then returned to Luke Air Force Base.

"You really couldn't tell that Jampy had any surgery at all -- it was remarkable," Sergeant Pillarella said.

Now, Jampy and his handler received orders to deploy and left last week.

"Jampy and I went through our pre-deployment training together," Sergeant Pillarella said. "Jampy was pushed to his max and he came out just fine. That really set my mind at ease knowing he will be able to handle whatever comes his way, whether it's explosives detection or running down the bad guys."

As Jampy and Sergeant Pillarella head down range, they know the support of the 56th SFS kennels is pushing them onward.

"This is going to be the ultimate test," said Tech. Sgt. Francis Warren, 56th SFS kennel master. "But, everyone here at the kennels knows they will come out with flying colors."