Southern Colorado woman works to create war dog memorial
A Southern Colorado woman has made it her mission to honor unsung heroes.
Ruby Ridpath’s journey began with a dog named Carlos.
Carlos served for five years in Iraq and Afghanistan as an explosives detection dog before Ridpath and her husband adopted him.
“He had that beautiful labrador face that said, ‘You have to love me,'” Ridpath said. “And everybody did.”
A year and a half ago, Ridpath adopted another war dog named Alik. Alik was a patrol explosive detection dog with the Air Force for almost eight years.
With a growing interest in war dogs, Ridpath realized there were very few memorials in the United States for dogs who have served.
“Even on military bases, there’s very few,” Ridpath said.
Ridpath started an effort to create one in Colorado Springs, laying the groundwork for a memorial to one day be in a public space.
“It’s time that Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado has a memorial that will recognize these unsung heroes,” Ridpath said. “People throughout the state, throughout the country and throughout the world, if you’re here visiting, come and see and learn about our war dogs.”
Although Ridpath’s mission started with military dogs, she says no working dog will be excluded.
“Our police K-9s, our U.S. customs and border patrol dogs, our search and rescue dogs, to me they’re all war dogs. They’re just fighting a different type of war,” she said. “The dogs didn’t sign on the dotted line, and yet, they work in the harshest of environments alongside our troops. They’ve given their lives. They didn’t ask for it, but they do it willingly and selflessly.”
The project artist, Austin Weishel, of Loveland, Colorado, has already sculpted a clay version of the memorial. The sculpture will depict two K-9s made of bronze and a brick path for visitors to walk around. People will be able to buy bricks in honor of a dog of their own.
War Dog Memorial Colorado is currently in its fundraising stages. To learn more, click here to visit the website.
