Double-Amputee Soldier Skydives With Dog (VIDEO)

Jumping out of a plane is certainly a memorable activity. Going skydiving with your dog is even more impressive. But one brave U.S. solider trumps both of those feats.

The unidentified soldier in the video, who brought his military working dog Axe along for the ride, is also a double-amputee who lost his feet in combat.

Gizmodo reports the man told DefenseTech, "I am still rocking! For those who haven't heard, I was blown up, with my [military working dog], Axe, Feb 17th of this year. I lost both of my feet, and was back to work in July."

Axe isn't the only dog that goes skydiving. This summer, a pug from California named Otis completed his 64th tandem jump with his owner.

In even weirder skydiving news, a couple in California raised eyebrows for performing a midair sex stunt while skydiving.

Click here for pictures of other heroic military working dogs. Sadly, about five percent of the U.S. military's workings dogs "are developing some form of canine PTSD."

Comments

[hyaofcr]

07:25 PM on 12/11/2011

Awesome dog, not sure he wanted to go skydiving though!

[Mr Anonymous]

06:33 PM on 12/10/2011

Personally I hate the smell of dog pee on my clothes.

[Stephen Thorpe]

04:46 PM on 12/10/2011

Hows that any different than feeding your dog LSD? Freak that poor creature out right into a heart attack!!

[PhunkeyPhish]

09:56 PM on 12/11/2011

If this dog is a military dog, chances are this isn't his first time skydiving either. If a dog were freaked out they'd be howling and flailing their legs the entire time. Skydiving dogs are the least of our worries, even if your worries are only about animal rights.

[snowyleopard55]

01:09 PM on 12/10/2011

Until we humans are fluent in Dogspeak, we should not make these kind of life-and-death decisions for animals. Just because a dog's owner wants to skydive, does not mean that their pet wants to. So until we can ask their permission I suggest we give the animals the benefit of the doubt. There is a big difference between risking the dog's life in the course of military duty and when they are off duty. Their off duty time should be spent doing things that are enjoyable and do not subject them to stress, anxiety and possible death. They already put their lives on the line on duty.

[kezaezy]

04:18 PM on 12/10/2011

The only difference between 'risking he dog's life in the course of military duty and when they are off duty' is the value we humans place on each activity. It's all the same to the dog.

[snowyleopard55]

08:04 AM on 12/11/2011

Thanks for your reply, yes I agree with you

[jennielake]

12:03 AM on 12/10/2011

... hugs to the dog.

I want to go off - but will just send hugs.

[Kermit Blackwood]

01:29 PM on 12/09/2011

The soundtrack pretty much says it all.

[Evil Twin Rove]

12:35 PM on 12/09/2011

very cool... the dog enjoyed it... he told me

[Remember Remember]

12:28 PM on 12/09/2011

Military dogs jump with soldiers now, it's part of their job. I'm pretty sure 'getting shot at and blown up' counts as being cruelty as well but you're not complaining about that.

Dogs have been in militant service for 100s of years, they're just evolving with the job.

[MochasMom]

12:09 PM on 12/09/2011

I'm not going to watch this. This isn't right.

[catboycolo]

11:43 AM on 12/09/2011

yes, it is animal cruelty. The dog is their to lead him towards safety and away from danger, tough to do if you are confused and plummeting towards the earth.

[fetchmasters]

11:11 AM on 12/09/2011

This dog appears VERY eager to get on the plane. Although, his yawning and heavy panting prior to the jump would indicate stress.

While I think the animal cruelty idea may be a bit over the top, I'm re-thinking this one.

Posted from my Android Phone
Tom Aaron
FetchMaste­rs, LLC
http://www­.fetchmast­ers.com

[MochasMom]

12:13 PM on 12/09/2011

Tom, as someone who apparently works with dogs, I would be very disappointed if you were in support of putting an animal through this.

[fetchmasters]

12:34 PM on 12/09/2011

Mochasmom,

When I first watched the video, I only saw the dog's apparent excitement as it was suited up and ready to go. After seeing all of the negative comments, I went back and watched the rest. The dog was significantly stressed, as indicated by the yawning and heavy panting.

I think it would be possible to condition a dog to enjoy such an activity. But it would be difficult, and probably unsuccessful with most dogs.

I agree that this dog was pretty scared.

Unfortunately, I could not figure out how to delete my original comment.

[fetchmasters]

11:02 AM on 12/09/2011

OK, this is WAY cool. I'm trying to figure out if there is a business in Colorado that teaches you to skydive with your dog.

Posted from my Android Phone
Tom Aaron
FetchMasters, LLC
http://www.fetchmasters.com

[Neil20]

10:15 AM on 12/09/2011

This guy who sky-dived with his dog subjected the animal to cruelty. How does he know that the dog enjoyed the jump? The dog put his life on the line because he trusted his master. This is absolute madness on the part of the sky-diver. He could have jumped by himself but he shouldn't have subjected his dog to this type of mental agony. The guy is mad. I hope this is the last time he does this. Animal rights activists and organisations ought to be up in arms against such horrific practices.

[megsy123]

04:22 AM on 12/09/2011

So wrong. Poor dog.

Sky diving is cool, but your dog probably won't enjoy it.
My dog won't climb wooden stairs...He definately wouldn't enjoy thinking his death was imminent.

[J Michael Norris]

03:55 AM on 12/09/2011

Poor dog. WOW!