Military dogs to be honored with memorial at Encinitas, Calif., 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16

Military dogs to be honored with memorial at Encinitas, Calif., 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16...

 A local humane society is dedicating a memorial on a portion of its property to dogs that have served in the nation’s armed services and is inviting the public to get involved.

The dedication ceremony Saturday for Military Working Dogs memorial will mark the first private memorial of its kind west of the Mississippi, according to Simran Noon of the Rancho Coastal Humane Society.

The memorial has dual purpose for dog enthusiasts.  First, it allows the public to honor highly trained companions, who have saved an average of 150 lives during their careers, Noon said.  The other is to educate the public on the need to adopt these animals.

The public is welcome to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas.