NEW BERLIN, WI (April 27, 2015) – Much like human soldiers, military working dogs rarely flinch in the face of grave danger. K-9 heroes like Digo, a bomb-sniffing dog, and his handler, Chief Petty Officer Benito Olson, take that bravery to the next level. Lt. Col. Oliver North, host of Sportsman Channel’s Saving Private K-9, shares the harrowing story of the team’s deployment to Iraq and their mission to locate the enemy in a bomb-laden city. Intel led them to what appeared to be an empty building, but what transpired next could – potentially – bring an end to both of their careers.
Tune in to the award-winning original series Saving Private K-9 on Thursday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT exclusively on Sportsman Channel.
Digo and Olson set out on a mission to find one of al Qaeda’s top money handlers in Iraq. The location, known to be littered with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), meant the team would have to remain highly-attuned to their surroundings. Olson received information confirming the enemy’s presence in a nearby building, and it was clear Digo needed to assess the situation. But before Digo could enter the building, standard procedure had to be followed and a grenade was launched to clear the area of any threats. Digo and Benito soon discovered they were in for more than they had bargained for.
“If Digo could talk to the public, he would say he’s just doing what he loves to do. And he’s taught me so many things – not just about training dogs,” said Benito. “There is no price to put on working with these dogs. There are hard times and there are good times. It’s a lot of work to put in, but it’s really rewarding at the end.”
