OHIO– It’s said that military working dogs are seen as equipment, complete with a serial number, but the canine handlers say they truly become brothers in war and best friends.

An Ohio man says he was inspired to find a way to honor their sacrifice through a powerful art series now on display. 

​Our story begins with one incredible military working dog and his handler, who will never be forgotten.

Military Working Dog Robson L096 served six years of active duty service in the U.S. Air Force. Joint and bone conditions forced him to retire in 2014. 

In January of 2019, held up by his loving family, Robson was given his final salute. Advanced hip dysplasia meant it was time to let go.

This war hero was affectionately known as “Robbie” by his best friend and handler, Tech. Sgt. David Simpson. Simpson would retire first, and then after ten months, he got word that Robbie was allowed to retire. David then flew to Germany to adopt his partner and bring him home. 

Robbie’s new mission: enjoy retirement in Florida and love and protect Simpson, his wife, and their three kids.

Simpson bravely served our country for 16 years in the Air Force. Like so many, when he came home, the mental wounds proved too much. Robbie couldn’t protect Simpson from PTSD or the pain from Lyme disease contracted while serving. David Simpson took his own life in 2017.

A thousand miles away in Central Ohio, their story is coming back to life.

With wood as his canvas, James Mellick tells powerful stories.

He’s the creator of the Wounded Warrior Dogs Project and the spinoff series called K9 War Stories.

K9 War Stories are the stories of real military working dogs that have passed away. When Mellick learned of Robbie’s passing in January, he knew that was his next piece. 

“David’s kids hug Robbie for the last time, and it would be nice to see them, to see Robbie reborn for them in some ways,” Mellick says. 

He’s never met David or Robbie, but their story has been Jim’s focus day and night for months.

“What I need to do is tell the story of the pain that is there,” he says, describing the moral of this piece. “Having the uniform lying under the dog and the dog waiting to go for a walk is symbolic of the wife and the children who are waiting. But you know they’re missing as well... and the pain. If I could just tell every veteran, anybody who was thinking about suicide, it doesn’t end with you. Your death is where it begins because that’s when the suffering starts. You’re inflicting suffering and others who will miss you tremendously.”

This powerful art form is now displayed alongside three other canines. K9 War Stories introduces people to the real stories of a K9 team that survived an IED explosion, another team that would not, and a reunion between two four-legged warriors in the afterlife, called “Over the Rainbow Bridge.” 

Seeing that reunion of two real-life best friends during war would bring the surviving handler to his knees.

“And I see his shoulders heave and he’s over there sobbing in front of it,” Mellick describes. “I’m just glad to be able to do these kinds of things for people. Who am I? I mean, I am no one compared to what they’ve done.”

At 72-years young, Jim says he should be retired. He’s also never served in the military, but he says this mission is his calling. “I always thought that God was working through me on his behalf. I’m just a vessel.”

Patriotism and a thank you for veterans’ service and sacrifice, allowing some veterans to open up about their experiences for the first time. And hopefully, with the addition of Robbie, his work can now depict the painful reality of 22 U.S. veterans that take their lives every day.

With hundreds of hours put into each piece, each story, emotional and physical fatigue is wearing on Jim, but he says, “If this were the last one, this is the story I had to do.”

The K9 War Stories is now on exhibit at the Dayton Air Force Museum.

Jim’s original series called Wound Warrior Dogs Project is also on display. That depicts the service and injuries to veterans from every war, as told through his canine artwork.

The exhibit runs through January 31st.