LAS VEGAS -- Meet Arkos, the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who was spotted Monday at SHOT Show's range day wearing protection for his ears and eyes just like other attendees.
Arkos belonged to a U.S. Army veteran who was medically discharged after serving 18 years in the service and multiple tours of duty to Iraq. He declined to have his photograph taken.
The veteran said Arkos helps him relax in crowds and sleep at night. He said he outfitted his canine with wear eye- and eye-pro at the range to prevent any long-term sensory damage -- "just like I would for any other member of my family," he said.
Range day is an opportunity for reporters and other professionals to spend a day at the range -- the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club outside Vegas -- to see and shoot some of the tactical weapons and other products before the official start of the trade show.
SHOT -- for shooting, hunting and outdoor trade -- is the largest show of its kind in the world, with a more than 60,000 attendees, mostly from military, law enforcement and hunting organizations.
--Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
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