Veteran Struggling to Bring Home Dog He Saved In Iraq

Veteran Struggling to Bring Home Dog He Saved from Death in Iraq
PEOPLE
Kelly Bender
May 27, 2016

“If she survives and I am able to get her out of Iraq she will come to the U.K. or Spain with me and my family,” he vowed. “She will not be going anywhere else.”Former Marine Alex Cairnie is already Warpaws' savior, now he wants to be the stray puppy's dad.

According to The Express, Cairnie, 39, found the pup on Saturday suffering on the streets of Basra, Iraq, in the searing heat. Warpaws, the name Cairnie, who was a Royal marine commando from 1997-2004, gave the dog, was covered in matted fur, glue and ticks. The tiny, white pup was also severely malnourished, dehydrated and unable to walk.
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Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States

If you are not a dog lover, there is not much of a chance this story will touch your heart. I have had some cats in my life, but dogs, well, they don't love you depending on what mood they are in.

This is Harpo and me at 20 (long time ago) a German Shepherd/Mastiff at six months old. When I brought him home, he was just two months old and I drove my car with him in my coat pocket. He was with me in some very difficult times. As a matter of fact, while Harpo loved everyone, he didn't like my ex-husband from the time we started to date. He was a better judge of character than I was.

Brandon, our Golden was with us for almost 14 years. We had to put him down two years ago when age caught up to him and he began to shut down. Brandon came into our lives when this family was falling apart because of PTSD and the poor dog had to listen to all of us cry, get soaked with our tears and gave us more love back than we could have ever given him.


This is Mac a Lab/Border Collie. Mac was with us only 5 months this year. We adopted him in January. He got sick the end of June and we had to put him down a couple of weeks ago. In the short time he was with us, he loved us beyond measure. He used to take naps with me on the family room sofa.

Mac was also subjected to a lot of projects for my college classes.

And now we have Harry. A Rottweiler/Lab. He's almost 4 months old.

At every major time in my life and when life was good, dogs were there just as much as any other part of my family. It didn't matter if I had them for months or years, the connection was so strong that they were equal to humans in our family. The bond can, and usually is, that strong.

When I look back at pictures I've seen with men and women deployed into combat, it is clear to see that they are not just smiling with a cute puppy, but loving them. Knowing first hand how much they tug at your soul, it is easy for me to understand that bond and the need to get them back. War dogs offer something no weapon ever can in combat. A reminder that unconditional love can live on even in horrible places.

Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States
Less than a week ago, several troops returned home to Fort Carson from a year long deployment in Afghanistan. While overseas, an Army unit adopted a puppy and they're now fighting to bring it to the United States.
Reporter: Alyssa Chin

Less than a week ago, several soldiers returned home to Fort Carson from a year long deployment in Afghanistan. While overseas, their unit adopted a puppy and they're now fighting to bring it to Colorado Springs.

During our interview with SGT Ryan Kivistad, he flipped through the photos of his deployment in Afghanistan. Several of them featured a dog named Gordita.


"She's a good dog. It's not really a good place over there. (I want to) make sure she gets a good home," Kivistad said.

Shortly after the loss of three unit members killed by a roadside bomb, Gordita was adopted in a trade for three parachutes. She helped these troops cope and quickly became the highlight of their time overseas.
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Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States

$6,000 raised to fly two Afghanistan war zone dogs to the U.S.

$6,000 raised to fly two Afghanistan war zone dogs to the U.S.
Published: July 4, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Two stray dogs in Afghanistan that found comfort and companionship with a company of U.S. Army soldiers at a remote firebase are poised to leave the war zone behind. As the troops get set to return home, their spouses have raised nearly $6,000 to fly the dogs to the United States.

A Facebook posting has spread the word and donations are flowing in to pay the costs of transporting the dogs - Smiley and OP1 - the thousands of miles from Afghanistan. Their destination: Fort Campbell, the big military base on the Kentucky-Tennessee line and a new, peaceful life with the families of some of the soldiers.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, was one of the units dispatched to Afghanistan last year to secure that country from a resurgent Taliban. They are expected to begin leaving the country later this summer.

Sonya Luedeman, wife of Spc. Jason Luedeman - a medic in Charlie Company, 1-61 Cavalry - said her husband couldn't stop talking about a black-and-white dog that had followed the soldiers back to their firebase during a patrol months ago.
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War zone dogs
linked from Stars and Stripes

Navy Says Dogs Died After Contractor Neglect

Navy Says Dogs Died After Contractor Neglect
March 10, 2010
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Navy says that three dogs died and dozens more were in poor health after being neglected by a private security contractor in Chicago that had been hired to train the dogs to detect explosives.

A team of military handlers discovered the dogs last October at a facility run by Securitas Security Services USA after the Navy terminated a $7.5 million contract.

Navy spokesman Capt. William Fenick said that of the 49 dogs discovered, two were dead and the rest were in poor health. Another dog died soon after being recovered.

Securitas Security Services did not immediately provide comment.

The incident was first reported by The Virginian-Pilot, which says it obtained a picture of one of the rescued dogs, whose rib cage and hip bones were protruding.
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Navy Says Dogs Died After Contractor Neglect

After the tornado - Greensburg , Kansas

I received this in an email. It shows what humans have to learn from "dumb animals."

After the tornado - Greensburg , Kansas

THIS IS SUCH A NEAT STORY

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little guy they named Ralphie.
Ralphie, scared and starved, joined his rescuers...


Someone had already taken him under their wing but weren't equipped to adopt;
I wouldn't think anything could live thru this...but we were wrong.




This little lady also survived that wreckage.
Here she is just placed in the car - scared, but safe.



and then...they are no longer alone!

Instant friends, they comforted each other while in the car.



Add two more beagles found after that...the more, the merrier!
Oh boy, a new traveler to add to the mix...



(note : the cat coming over the seat needing shelter...)



now just how is this going to work??? - and remember they are all strange to one another.




Wow! The things we learn from our animal friends...

If only all of mankind could learn such valuable lessons as this.

Lessons of instant friendship. Of peace and harmony by way of respect for one another -- no matter one's color or creed.

These animals tell you... 'It's just good to be alive and with others.'

Yes, it surely is.

So... Live, Love, Laugh.

'Life's a Gift... Unwrap It!'