FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers of the 8th Military Police Detachment, 91st Military Police Battalion, gathered Jan. 6 at Po Valley Family Life and Spiritual Fitness Center to bid farewell and honor the service of a fallen military working dog.

Suzie, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, recently died as a result of complications from an emergency surgery. She entered the Military Working Dog program in July 2007 at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Suzie graduated as a patrol drug detector dog and was assigned to Fort Drum in July 2008. She has had seven handlers and served over nine years, to include two deployments in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

Her duties consisted of law enforcement support, customs sweeps, health and welfare inspections and MWD demonstrations.

The memorial ceremony included a reading of the K9 Prayer and the poem, "Guardians of the Night." The roll call allowed all of the dog handlers in the unit to approach the memorial, render a salute and pay respect to one of their own. Chaplain (Capt.) Jueun Kim, 16th MP Brigade, delivered the invocation and benediction.

Capt. Adam Ray Kubatzke, 8th MP Detachment commander, said that military working dogs are unique, hard-working animals that serve not as pets, but comrades. Those who had worked with Suzie, he said, agreed that she was very easy to work with and was responsive to commands.

Pvt. Theodore Richards most recently partnered with Suzie, for about a month, but not long enough to be certified as her handler. Still, he got to know her sweet personality and said Suzie loved being outdoors and running free.

"There was never a bad attitude with her," he said. "I hate that we lost a dog like this."

Military working dogs have been partnered with Soldiers since World War II, and the bonds developed between MWDs and handlers are exceptional.

"Handlers who build this special bond with their canines know the distinct service, duty and sacrifice that these canines endure -- that their military working dog can be the one true factor (that determines) whether or not they return home safely or live to fight another day," said Staff Sgt. Gloria Greenidge, 8th MP Detachment kennel master.

She said that MWDs like Suzie are instrumental in reducing illicit drugs and criminal activity, providing security at the gates and keeping the community safe. On deployments, they play critical roles in finding explosive devices and munitions.

"Those who have had the privilege to serve with these dogs and those who have been protected from harm because of these canines will never forget the service of these four-legged heroes and remain forever grateful and thankful for having them by their side," Greenidge said.

Along with providing law enforcement and force protection support on post, Greenidge said Suzie was popular at MWD demonstrations.

"Well-known for her lovable personality, she became highly requested for canine demonstrations and (she was) a favorite among children in the Fort Drum and Watertown communities," she said. "Each of her handlers could say that she was a hard-working, loving and very loyal dog. MWD Suzie was truly special and will be missed by all who knew her."