The Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service (DODMWDVS) is a subordinate unit under the Army Veterinary Command that is responsible for comprehensive veterinary care for all military working dogs (MWD) at the DOD Dog Center at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, as well as providing referral services to working dogs world-wide. Additionally, the DODMWDVS provides care for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dogs undergoing training as part of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, also located at Lackland.

The DODMWDVS cares for the approximately 900 dogs/puppies that are at Lackland AFB, Lackland’s Medina Training Annex (MTA), or in local area foster homes. Much of this care involves routine semiannual examinations, “sick call” examinations when dogs are noted to appear ill or injured, vaccinations, dental cleanings, etc. However, the hospital additionally performs diagnostic procedures and treatments generally only seen at private veterinary specialty practices and veterinary colleges. The main hospital serves as the referral center for working dogs world-wide if the appropriate care cannot be provided by local veterinary treatment facilities.

The service is located in two facilities, a state-of-the-art hospital on the southwest portion of the main base, and a small clinic at the MTA. The main facility, the Holland Military Working Dog Hospital, was opened in 2008 and is approximately 38,000 square feet in size, of which about 30,000 sq ft is devoted to areas that directly care for the dogs. The remaining area houses office, mechanical and storage space.

There are approximately 55 people who are part of the DODMWDVS including 14 veterinarians, 23 technicians, six non-medical support personnel as well as contract dog handlers and janitorial staff. It takes the efforts of all these people to bring the absolute best care to our four-footed veterans.