Marine and his military dog meet 60 years later
In this slideshow, Art Glatfelter is seen laying his hand on the statue of his dog Pal, who served in the 3rd Marine War Dog Platoon during World War II. The statue was unveiled during a special Veterans Day presentation.
The story of philanthropist Art Glatfelter‘s goodbyes and hellos with his dog Pal during World War II is touching.
The summary point is that Art went to war and so did Pal.
That relationship will be memorialized for the ages with a Lorann Jacobs’ statue to sit along the rail trail in York’s downtown.
How pets fare during war is an often overlooked topic.
The following from my World War II book “In the Thick of the Fight” gives a summary:…
The war affected pets, too, including York County’s 17,737 licensed dogs.
Local Civilian Defense officials issued guidelines about caring for pets during air raids.
The guidelines urge owners of dogs to leash them to their kennels. House dogs should be kept in one room. Cats should be placed in a box or basket. Residents should not turn pets loose outdoors and should not ask police officers to care for them.
Pet birds, at risk from broken natural gas lines, could be placed in a gas-proof box. The same was true with pet white mice.
Owners who could accommodate their pets in the country should do so.
But the guidelines warned against killing pets, as had happened in Britain during German air attacks. The Humane Society pointed to the impact such animals have on morale.
“Don’t kill your pet,”The York Dispatch reported, “with the idea that you will thereby spare them the dangers of an air raid.”
By the way, York city is accepting donations for the sculpture and its ongoing maintenance. Tax-deductible contributions should be made payable to “City of York” and sent to the City Treasurer’s office, 50 West King Street, PO Box 509, York, PA 17405.
