Alabama War Dog Memorial

The Alabama War Dog Memorial at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile was dedicated on Veterans Day 2008 and honors the service of dogs in U.S. war efforts. It was created by Clark Memorials of Birmingham. At the dedication, a tribute was unveiled to canines that have served as alert dogs in the military. The four-ton granite slab supports statues depicting a war dog, his handler and other soldiers. The marble back side contains a listing of war dogs associated with handlers from Alabama. In front of the piece are boot prints made from an actual soldier's footwear, along with paw prints. The idea, said John O'Malley, is that visitors can more easily identify with the men and dogs who have faced great danger during battle. O'Malley, president of the Alabama War Dog Memorial Foundation, said the $58,000 memorial took six months to design.