I'm in the middle of reading Soldier Dogs, by my dear friend Maria Goodavage. She writes about canine heroes like Rex. Miltary Working Dogs [MWD] like Rex, in this instance, have my deepest respect and I'm so glad to read that he is going to be reunited with his handler and buddy Corporal Leavey.
Reunited at last: Woman bomb disposal expert saves her dog from death-row after they were both blown up in Afghanistan
A military dog handler is set to be finally been reunited with the dog she served in Iraq with after launching a high-profile adoption campaign.
Former Marine Cpl. Megan Leavey survived a road-side bomb with her loyal canine Sgt. Rex and was devastated when it was announced that the German shepherd was to be put down by the Marine Corps.
Leavey, 28, completed over 100 missions during two six-month tours in Iraq with the military service dog Rex.
The pair finished their deployment together in 2006 and then spent almost a year rehabilitating from the injuries they had suffered together.
Since being discharged in December 2007 Leavey has campaigned to adopt the bomb-sniffing canine so he could enjoy a civilian life with her in Rockport, New York.
Awesome! I've heard the military treats their dogs very well, but they are a little too ready to dispose of them when they retire. If it is true that most military dogs aren't 'adoptable' because of the work they were trained to do, I hope the military adopts some sort of policy which allows retired dogs to be rehabilitated for family life.
Posted by: Dawn | March 21, 2012 at 11:38 AM