War Dogs: A Modern Breed of Heroes
Shane Bryant with Tony Park
Rockhopper Books
Review: Karen Watkins
This riveting read is a memoir of how Australian author Shane Bryant ended up as a private military contractor working in war-torn Afghanistan.
It is co-authored by international best-selling Tony Park who divides his time between Sydney, Australia, and a house on the border of the Kruger National Park.
The story begins with Bryant’s early years and how these influenced his later decisions. He joined the Australian Army and qualified as an explosive detection dog handler before working with the Australian police force.
Meanwhile, he got married and became a father to three children. A second marriage reaped a further two children. After a brief, unsuccessful stint as an investigator and then as an estate agent, he found himself heavily in debt. This led to him leaving Australia for a lucrative career as a contractor working alongside elite American Special Forces in Afghanistan.
The common thread throughout his working career is an enduring passion for dogs, especially working dogs.
The bond between man and dogs is intense, as is Bryant’s respect and affection for his canine partners. His descriptions of the dog breeds, personalities and training methods are fascinating and informative. The story touches on the handlers’ challenges including the need to switch dogs after returning from leave and dealing with the dogs’ personalities; Ricky is aggressive towards local people and motorbikes while in his words, Benny the Bouncer is hard-arsed, with a no-nonsense attitude. This all adds a layer of complication to their handlers’ work.
Don’t be put off by the title that suggests a story primarily about the dogs because it is more one of Bryant’s experiences and reflections of his life and career.
His honest portrayal of the moral obscurities of his work and his personal sacrifices make this a worthy read, especially for those interested in the bond between handlers and their dogs or the life of a military contractor.
For me it clarified the War on Terror and why this global counter terrorist military campaign came about following the September 11 attacks of 2001.
