Rescue Dog Gets a New Title and Joins the Navy for a Very Special Mission

Not long ago, Raider was a homeless dog waiting for someone to give him a chance. Now he has a title, a uniformed crew, and a pretty impressive new place to call home. Lieutenant Raider recently deployed aboard the USS Makin Island, where the former rescue dog will serve alongside more than 2,500 Sailors and Marines. Shelter to Soldier announced the milestone with a photo of its former trainee heading off on a mission that would have been difficult to imagine back when he was a homeless pup. Raider is now a U.S. Navy-designated FIDO, or Fleet Integrated Dog Operator. His job involves considerably fewer spreadsheets than most official positions and a whole lot more tail wagging. Credit: Facebook Raider Was a Rescue Dog Before He Was Lieutenant Raider Raider’s journey began far away from the decks of a Navy ship. Shelter to Soldier previously identified him as a Lab mix who was adopted from Labs and More Rescue before entering training to become a morale dog. Shelter to Soldier is a California nonprofit built around giving rescue dogs a new purpose while supporting members of the military community. Its programs include psychiatric service dogs for veterans, emotional support animals...