JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, Naval Station Mayport celebrated the retirement of military working service dog Oosage after nine years of service with a heartfelt sendoff.
Military working dogs like Oosage receive a full retirement ceremony similar to their human counterparts, marking their significant contributions to national security.
Oosage, described as a “single-purpose explosive detection dog,” was raised in the Navy’s puppy program. Her career included over 5,000 hours of work and a deployment to Kuwait.
MA1 Jonathan White, the Kennel Master at Mayport, noted her role in ensuring safety by detecting explosives on vehicles, individuals, and other threats to the installation.
“She stood the watch so that we, our families, and our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly and safely,” said a speaker during the ceremony.
The retirement ceremony also marked the end of an era, as Oosage is the last Mayport dog who actively participated in the global war on terror, White said.
Her next assignment? Life as a family pet in Colorado, where she will enjoy a large property and a basket of retirement gifts, including toys to ease her transition to civilian life.
The event featured a solemn chapel ceremony and tributes from naval personnel. A final message honored Oosage with a reading of the traditional Navy poem “The Watch,” which says in part, “Shipmate, the watch stands relieved.”