If you regularly read my column you know I have a passion for three topics: veterans, pets and shopping local. So let's tackle two of the three in one swoop - vets and pets. I missed seeing the New Year's day Rose Parade on TV. Later I read in business publications that Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods long-standing tradition of having a float in the parade took it to another level. This year their float honored military dogs who risk their lives everyday protecting their handlers. The floral float, named CANINES WITH COURAGE, featured a replica of the new Working Dog Teams National Monument with dogs and handlers from every military service branch riding on it alongside the designer John Burnam, a Viet Nam veteran military dog handler. Burnam, who received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart said of his dog. . . . "He saved my life and saved the lives of others by alerting on ambushes, snipers and booby traps. I wanted to give something back to these animals that have done so much and asked for so little, except for food and water and the love of their handlers." Sculptor of the National Monument, Paula Slater, has depicted a Doberman, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and Belgian Malinois, all breeds used in wars. They are represented with a bronze handler standing more than 9 feet tall and weighing 1,500 pounds. Each dog is about 5 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds. The figures will stand on a pedestal with the words ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD, MARINES. It will soon be in place at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The location was chosen as the site for the monument because that's where most of the nation's military dogs are trained. Legislation authorizing establishment of the monument was introduced in 2007, signed in 2008 by President George W. Bush then amended and signed by President Barack Obama.

To raise funds for the monument and its maintenance, Natural Balance pledged more than one million dollars and created a jerky bark treat sold by Petco. Maddie's Fund, a family-funded pet rescue foundation, also signed on as a corporate sponsor.

I am heading off to sunny Orlando for Global Pet Expo, the world's largest pet trade show. I think I'll just stop by the Natural Balance Pet Food booth and tell them thank you for supporting our military veterans and providing a national monument to the dog war heroes. And while I'm there I might just get a peek at Tillman. He's the bulldog who started the skateboarding craze that inspired our own Indianapolis downtown skating bulldog and Butler Blue III. Pets make you smile.