12 Amazing Dogs Of The U.S. Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the best military in the world, so it would only follow that they have some of the best communications specialists and photographers, as well.

The official U.S. Coast Guard Flickr account is full of stunning, patriotic images of men and women serving in all types of capacities and situations as guardsmen. The photographs show their service, hard work, fun side, and patriotic dedication to their country and their fellow guardsmen.

Serving right along side the men and women of the Coast Guard are amazing canines, some of the military’s most skilled working dogs. Whether on land or sea, these dogs are helping protect the United States and keeping us safe.

Here are photos of 12 amazing United States Coast Guard K9s that are absolutely amazing!

Semper Paratus, USCG!


Puppy Kisses

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Nate Littlejohn
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Nate Littlejohn

Seaman Nina Bowen shows some love to Chief Bert, Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina’s mascot. Chief Bert is a retired explosive detection dog who worked for six years with the Maritime Safety and Security Team in Gavelston, Texas.

Argus

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki

Argus relaxes during the hustle and bustle of holiday cheer in Hudgins, Virginia. Argus is the well-loved station mascot for Station Milford Haven.

K9 Security

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew S. Masaschi
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew S. Masaschi

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Bacone from Maritime Safety and Security Team New York conducts a security sweep with his canine, Ruthie, during a dinner cruise in Washington, D.C. Coast Guard canine explosive detection teams are comprised of one Coast Guard working dog and one handler and are utilized around the country to protect maritime assets.

Explosives Detector

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory J. Mendenhall

Balu, a German short-haired pointer, and his handler, Justin Ross, members of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department, hone their explosive-ordnance detection skills at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California. Several local law enforcement K-9 units train with Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco on a regular basis.

From Shelter to Station

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jasmine Mieszala
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jasmine Mieszala

Pictured here is Boomer, the mascot of Coast Guard Station Crisfield, Maryland, sitting on the deck of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium. Boomer was rescued from a shelter and reported to Station Crisfield as the mascot in December 2013.

Station Mascot

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki

Boozer sits at attention at Base Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia. Boozer is the cutter’s beloved mascot and serves in the U.S. Coast Guard dutifully.

Wildlife Control

U.S. Coast Guard/Air Station Traverse City
U.S. Coast Guard/Air Station Traverse City

Piper, the wildlife control canine at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan, checks the area for pests as aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City in an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and the Royal Canadian Air Force in a CH-146 Griffon take off during a joint search-and-rescue training exercise at the airport.

The Coast Guard routinely partners with local and international agencies to ensure solidarity when conducting rescue operations together.

Girl’s Best Friend

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin

Rory, the daughter of Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin, hangs out with Piper, part of the Cherry Capital Airport K-9 Team, at Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor. Piper, who works with members of Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan, and Rory met at the station as part of a meet and greet for the K-9 team and members of the Cleveland-area Coast Guard and their families.

Officer Hawkeye

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Yaw
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Yaw

Petty Officer 3rd Class Hawkeye, the station dog and mascot at Coast Guard Station Lorain, Ohio, welcomes home the crew and Spirit of America group, following an underway trip in Lake Erie aboard the stations 45-foot response boat. Hawkeye kept a careful watch on them while the group toured the station and got underway on its boats.

Good Boy

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin R. Williams
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin R. Williams

Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas Beane, a K-9 handler with the Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team, rewards his dog with a chew toy after a training evolution at Joint Reserve Base Ellington. The training was to prepare for joint Coast Guard and police sweeps of the Super Bowl 51 stadium and event venues.

Protecting Boston

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Barresi
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Barresi

Petty Officers Craig Oravitz and Richard Barone patrol Boston’s waterfront with Rruthie, a specially trained Coast Guard K-9. The team is based out of New York and is in Boston as part of an increased security presence for the Boston Marathon.

Response Dog

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Zac Crawford
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Zac Crawford

Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Cross, a K-9 handler from Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle, stands by his partner, Thomas, as they keep an eye on the crew members of the motor vessel, Ironwood, during a maritime response exercise on the Columbia River. The multi-agency exercise tested the readiness of the participants’ ability to handle various potential threats.

Clean Sweep

U.S. Coast Guard/Chief Petty Officer Robert Nash
U.S. Coast Guard/Chief Petty Officer Robert Nash

Tosca and her Maritime Security Response Team canine officer sweep the deck of Mississippi Canyon Block 582, Medusa Platform during a joint exercise. The MSRT, Murphy Oil Corporation, and DoD worked together to train to respond to threats aboard the production facility.

Penguin Star

U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Grant DeVuyst
U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 2nd Class Grant DeVuyst

Obviously not a dog, but who could resist this amazing penguin posing in front of a U.S. Coast Guard vessel? The U.S. Coast Guard serves all over the entire world!

This curious Adelie penguin stands near the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star on McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. During their visit to Antarctica for Deep Freeze 2016, the U.S. military’s logistical support to the National Science Foundation-managed U.S. Antarctic Program, the Polar Star crew encountered a variety of Antarctic marine life, including penguins, whales, and seals.

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