MIA dog found in Afghanistan after 14 months

AP – In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, Australian explosive detection dog Sabi is photographed …

SYDNEY - A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan between Australian troops and militant fighters has been found and returned to its unit after more than a year. And Sabi the black labrador is getting a celebrity welcome home. Sabi was with a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol ambushed in restive Uruzgan province in September 2008, triggering a gunfight that wounded nine troops and earned one Australian soldier the country’s highest bravery medal. But there was no sign of Sabi after the battle, and months of searching failed to find any sign of the retriever - until now.

 

 

 

Defense officials said Thursday that a U.S. soldier recovered Sabi at an isolated patrol base elsewhere in Uruzgan. Further details about the base were not given. The dog was returned to the Australians’ base in the province just in time for a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was photographed Wednesday along with the U.S. commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal petting Sabi.

“Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well,” Rudd told reporters.

Exactly where Sabi has been or what happened to her during the past 14 months will probably never be known, though that she was in good condition when she was found indicated somebody had been looking after her, military spokesman Brig. Brian Dawson told reporters in Canberra.

The dog was being tested for diseases before a decision was made on whether she can return to Australia.

More than 1,500 Australian troops are in Afghanistan and most of them are involved in training Afghan security forces. Among them are units that use dogs to sniff out roadside bombs and other explosive booby traps.

Prevention Of Animal Abuse, One Person At A Time

Just take a look at some of the cases of animal abuse and cruelty in any abuse database, and one can see there is a need, a dire need of help to eradicate and stamp out physical as well as emotional abuse of animals. Right now there is only thirty one states that claim felonies to anyone who is found proven in their abuse to animal or animals, and that needs to change.

Each person can individually take a part in helping to animals and changing the amount of states that hold people responsible for their abuse of animals. Volunteering and making donations are just to name a few. Plus, you can always come up with your own way of helping. Holding a yard sale and giving all the money made to a shelter or organization is a great way to help, plus it just makes you feel darn good in knowing your helping helpless animals. Let’s now discuss some ways you as an individual can help

Your local government needs to hear your voice as it pertains to this matter of animal abuse. Writing to them will not be a long drawn out process and it will aid them in letting them know that they need to take action in animal abuse. Let them know that they need to take animal abuse seriously and implement a law or laws that will come to the aid of so many desperate animals that have been neglected or abused. You may think that one voice can not do much, but if everyone gets on the bandwagon, the possibilities are endless.

You can also help and show your dedication to helping animals of abuse by sending emails to friends and family that you think will feel strongly like you about abuse of animals or their neglect. You may even be familiar with local community activists of animal rights and if you are not, do some research and locate a few and join their group or simply lend a hand where it is most needed.

A mere few people that are seriously motivated to protecting animals and their rights to be heard, can mean all the difference in the world to an abused or neglected animal. One can even find connections on getting animals placed in permanent, loving homes. These organizations always need assistance, and if you are not busy a day or two here or there, volunteer your time where they need it most. Answering calls in their offices or handing printouts will be beneficial. Remember, anything that you can do as one person could start a viral interests in helping abused animals. There are endless numbers of stories one can read of that tell the tale of how just one person, made a global difference. So, don’t be discouraged in feeling you won’t make a difference. The only way you won’t, is if you stand by and do nothing at all.

Animal Shelters: Become a Volunteer

There are a lot of people in the world who are unable to have a pet where they live, or maybe they just don’t have the funds to feed and care for a pet. They may not have any family to keep them company or maybe there are retired. A solution could be the local animal shelter or a local chapter of the ASPCA.

If you are looking for something to benefit your life, would like to have a pet, but not sure if you can afford it or take care of it, or just want to spend sometime outside the home, volunteering at the local shelter could be the answer. Most animal shelters always need help, and they appreciate any kind they can get. Whether you walk dogs, clean pens or just play with some animals, it is much appreciated. By volunteering at the shelter you become part of the solution. Your benefits will be great and you will feel better by helping out. And if being with the animals is not exactly what you are looking for, there are other things you can assist with, like fundraising, or stuffing envelopes.

To get started as a volunteer, search the local newspapers or yellow pages for listing in your area. Drop by and see if there is something you can do for them one or two days a week or maybe a few hours a day. There maybe a form that is necessary for you to complete to be able to volunteer, so check with the shelter.

The benefits you reap will impact your life and maybe even prompt a career change or provide you with the dream career of your life. You will be part of a network of thousands, maybe even millions of people that are trying to improve the world to be safer and more humane for all living creatures. The friends you make besides the four legged kind, will share the same or similar interest and can become life long friendships, and the four legged friends, well they will provide you with unconditional love and loyalty.

No one can express the joy or feelings they get when they comfort an animal, make them feel secure or provide them with a little love. The look on the animals face is priceless and kisses are sometimes abundant and just knowing that you have made them feel wanted is sometimes more than a heart can take. Enjoy the wag of the tail, a purr or the knowing yap when they see you. Become a part of a shelter animals life, and yes the best things in life are free.