Last updated: March 23, 2021
Place
HM-69 Sentry Dog Kennels
NPS Photo/ G Curbelo
Quick Facts
Amenities
1 listed
Wheelchair Accessible
This structure is what remains of the security dog kennel when the site was operaitonal. The small building and enclosure was home for the dogs who patrolled the exclusionary zone between the outer and inner fences.
Each Nike base had an average of four sentry dogs, each with a military police officer as their handler. The dogs were trained to only listen to their one handler, and to attack all other people. There are stories of soldiers running for cover if a dog got loose, until their handler got them back under control. These dogs and their armed handlers patrolled the fenceline every night, no matter the weather. As they patrolled, they carried metal weapons, and walked between metal fences. There were several occasions of dogs and handlers being struck by lightning.
Each Nike base had an average of four sentry dogs, each with a military police officer as their handler. The dogs were trained to only listen to their one handler, and to attack all other people. There are stories of soldiers running for cover if a dog got loose, until their handler got them back under control. These dogs and their armed handlers patrolled the fenceline every night, no matter the weather. As they patrolled, they carried metal weapons, and walked between metal fences. There were several occasions of dogs and handlers being struck by lightning.