The Sri Lanka Army, which goes down in history as the only fighting force to have vanquished ruthless terrorism in the 21st century on Tuesday (May 24) saluted one of its much-loved brave tracker dogs, Snowy who died while recuperating after an LTTE grenade attack, sustained in Kambilioya, Welioya on 15 March 2008 during the peak of terrorism.
It was the incumbent Commander of the Army, then as Commander, Security Forces, Wanni, despite tense and fast changing nature of ground battles and needs, took the initiative in the rush to airlift Snowy to Anuradhapura for medical consultations since Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya himself was the officer who introduced the tracker dog to the battlefield at that time.
Throughout his life span of seven years, the Army tracker dog, Snowy (S/080), the Golden Labrador of 4 Commando Regiment, remained united in all his tasks, offering his tireless island-wide services to his handler, Corporal D.H.P. Sampath who tamed and trained him at the reach of 6 months after his birth on 2 March 2004.
On that fateful day, Snowy sniffing out for any hidden terrorists, Improvised Explosive Devices, weapons and bomb-making equipment in and around Welioya jungles set out accompanied by his handler and another fellow-tracker dog, Bonny, but a gunfight that ensued in the scrub jungle brought death to one LTTE terrorist whose cloth pieces enabled the dog and Corporal Sampath to tirelessly pursue the search further.
Just several meters ahead of them, a hiding terrorist started firing a volley of shots in towards the opposite direction while simultaneously exploding a grenade over their heads. Both Snowy and his master unexpectedly sustained bleeding injuries following the explosion. Yet, their bravery remained unflagging.
Though he saw his master badly injured, Snowy, trained in combat proceeded with his search and moved forward with profusely bleeding wounds. However, another handler on hand, realizing the gravity, rushed Snowy to a nearby animal clinic, then to Anuradhapura, and finally to end up under the care of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Peradeniya where Dr Ashoka Dangolla and a waiting team of surgeons jumped into action, learning that the dog’s body was badly infested with pellets and shrapnels. His condition grew worse for some time, but Snowy’s health stabilized and was recommended a blood transfusion from a matching dog donor. Amazingly, everything worked well and he continued to survive, though the healing process was very slow.
His contribution was enormous. Snowy was afterwards honoured with a ‘Rana Wickrema Padakkama’ (Heroic deeds) medal recognizing his daunting tasks in the battlefront, but the serious nature of his grenade injuries and disability, confined Snowy to his abode at Ganemulla Commando Regiment Headquarters, away from his habitual active roles.
The Regimental Headquarters of Commando Regiment at Ganemulla in its Part I Order, issued on the death of Snowy, in accordance with military traditions, condoled deeply on his death and conducted a fitting funeral with the participation of a large gathering of officers, handlers and Commando troops.
The citation in the Part I Order is as follows;
“This dog, during his period of service after being born in Sri Lanka, performed extremely well, throwing his full weight behind our success in many operations against terrorists and their hideouts. It is equivalent to a national commitment. His diverse services to this Regiment will continue to be remembered among Commandos. His great service for preservation of the country’s territorial integrity with high level of his intelligence, tracking skills and determined pursuing capabilities will continue to reverberate among us.”
“His death is a great loss to handlers, fellow-tracking teams, Commando Regiment and the Army in general. While highly appreciating his invaluable services for the sake of peace in Sri Lanka, we (4 Commando Regiment) extend our heartfelt condolences on his demise and wish him attain Nirvana,” it added.
Sri Lanka Army after elimination of LTTE terrorism has been widely using those dogs for detection of LTTE-laid mines and other explosives in the north and east due to their keen senses of smelling and proper sniffing.
It was the incumbent Commander of the Army, then as Commander, Security Forces, Wanni, despite tense and fast changing nature of ground battles and needs, took the initiative in the rush to airlift Snowy to Anuradhapura for medical consultations since Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya himself was the officer who introduced the tracker dog to the battlefield at that time.
Throughout his life span of seven years, the Army tracker dog, Snowy (S/080), the Golden Labrador of 4 Commando Regiment, remained united in all his tasks, offering his tireless island-wide services to his handler, Corporal D.H.P. Sampath who tamed and trained him at the reach of 6 months after his birth on 2 March 2004.
On that fateful day, Snowy sniffing out for any hidden terrorists, Improvised Explosive Devices, weapons and bomb-making equipment in and around Welioya jungles set out accompanied by his handler and another fellow-tracker dog, Bonny, but a gunfight that ensued in the scrub jungle brought death to one LTTE terrorist whose cloth pieces enabled the dog and Corporal Sampath to tirelessly pursue the search further.
Just several meters ahead of them, a hiding terrorist started firing a volley of shots in towards the opposite direction while simultaneously exploding a grenade over their heads. Both Snowy and his master unexpectedly sustained bleeding injuries following the explosion. Yet, their bravery remained unflagging.
Though he saw his master badly injured, Snowy, trained in combat proceeded with his search and moved forward with profusely bleeding wounds. However, another handler on hand, realizing the gravity, rushed Snowy to a nearby animal clinic, then to Anuradhapura, and finally to end up under the care of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Peradeniya where Dr Ashoka Dangolla and a waiting team of surgeons jumped into action, learning that the dog’s body was badly infested with pellets and shrapnels. His condition grew worse for some time, but Snowy’s health stabilized and was recommended a blood transfusion from a matching dog donor. Amazingly, everything worked well and he continued to survive, though the healing process was very slow.
His contribution was enormous. Snowy was afterwards honoured with a ‘Rana Wickrema Padakkama’ (Heroic deeds) medal recognizing his daunting tasks in the battlefront, but the serious nature of his grenade injuries and disability, confined Snowy to his abode at Ganemulla Commando Regiment Headquarters, away from his habitual active roles.
The Regimental Headquarters of Commando Regiment at Ganemulla in its Part I Order, issued on the death of Snowy, in accordance with military traditions, condoled deeply on his death and conducted a fitting funeral with the participation of a large gathering of officers, handlers and Commando troops.
The citation in the Part I Order is as follows;
“This dog, during his period of service after being born in Sri Lanka, performed extremely well, throwing his full weight behind our success in many operations against terrorists and their hideouts. It is equivalent to a national commitment. His diverse services to this Regiment will continue to be remembered among Commandos. His great service for preservation of the country’s territorial integrity with high level of his intelligence, tracking skills and determined pursuing capabilities will continue to reverberate among us.”
“His death is a great loss to handlers, fellow-tracking teams, Commando Regiment and the Army in general. While highly appreciating his invaluable services for the sake of peace in Sri Lanka, we (4 Commando Regiment) extend our heartfelt condolences on his demise and wish him attain Nirvana,” it added.
Sri Lanka Army after elimination of LTTE terrorism has been widely using those dogs for detection of LTTE-laid mines and other explosives in the north and east due to their keen senses of smelling and proper sniffing.
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| 'Snowy' after discharge from Hospital |
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