A Dog Named "Tank"

This is a story about a dog named " Tank " and how one man found out about how much a dog can mean to a soldier.


A Dog Named "Tank"

I recently went to a local shelter to see if they had any dogs that were in need of a home.

 

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

 

I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."

To Whomever Gets My Dog: Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different. So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you. First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.

 Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."

He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business. Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows. Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you... His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name.

His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my

deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades. All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me. Thank you, Paul Mallory

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog. "Hey, Tank," I said quietly. The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

 
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered. His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.
 
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.
"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.
"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Help get our Miss " Sandy " Stateside........

Hope all had a good Easter Sunday -

Here is the mission - The pup that we have here in Afghanistan will be heading to her new home in Seattle. She was abandoned here on the side of the road in Kandahar but was taken in by the staff at the camp where we stay near KAF

 

The staff here named her " Xena " but I preferred to call her "Sandy"

 

She's with NOWZAD Dogs  ( www.nowzad.com ) and is in Kabul preparing to head home once she is medically cleared and they have her ready.

 

YOU can help my making a small donation to help with the $4000 it will cost to get her stateside.

 

Any amount is appreciated, no matter how much as I know $$$ is tight these days.

 

You can donate at http://www.gofundme.com/nowzad-xena

 

The website is paypal and it allows you to make a donation securely.

 

She's a great pup and deserves the life that she will have living in the US.

 

I appreciate all who assist and I rarely (if ever) ask for people to donate $$ but this is one little pup who is well worth it.

 

Thanks again.  With many hands lifting, this little girl will get a chance to live a " dog's life " with a family who will love her always.

 

 

 



Sandy will have a forever home in the US

There is good news here in Kandahar - We have found a forever home for Miss Sandy in the US !!

If all goes to plan, she will be residing in Seattle with a retired Marine and his family in the near future with the assistance of NOWZAD Dogs.  www.nowzad.com

This will be both happy and sad for all here as she is a sweetheart and we love having her here but we want her to have the best life possible.  Her new family will love her and she will live the life of a lucky dog.

She was found abandoned on the side of the road here in Kandahar and will now live in the USA.

She has hit the "Afghan Doggy Lottery".  Glad we could help her.

Our K9 Battle Buddies

" The Dog is a Gentleman; I hope to go to his Heaven, not Man's." - Mark Twain

 

Roger that Mr. Twain

For the love of our 4 legged pals......

My wife and I lost two of our dogs in the last year, both who were only about 12 years old.  It is tough as they come in & out of your life, always giving you the full devotion of their loyalty.

This author describes why if more of our POLS had dogs, we may have better leadership in government.  I feel he may be on to something -

America needs more dogs in politics, especially Labs

January 17, 2013 - Washington Examiner

Former Arkansas Gov. and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee did something Thursday that ought to remind us of a crucial fact about our politics and politicians. Huckabee shared on Facebook his grief and joy in losing Jet, a handsome black Labrador retriever who was his "inseparable companion and confidante for almost 15 years."

Be forewarned: If you love dogs, Huckabee's description of himself as "inconsolable" as he and his wife, Janet, held Jet in his last moments of life will likely moisten your eyes: "Jet asked for nothing except for basic necessities and a little bit of attention. For that, I enjoyed his unflinching loyalty, fidelity, and his calming presence. I loved that dog and always will. There was never a day that Jet didn't make me laugh in the almost 15 years we were together. Only on his last day with me did he make me cry."

"Jet asked for nothing except for basic necessities and a little bit of attention. For that, I enjoyed his unflinching loyalty, fidelity, and his calming presence. I loved that dog and always will." - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Claudia and I had the same experience a year ago when we had to put down our Abby, a chocolate Lab who was my "sweetheart baby-girl Labbie" for a dozen years.

Like Jet, Abby was special, from her nose (made crooked by a mysterious incident that would have ended her life at seven weeks had Claudia not reserved her for my 50th birthday) to her long, thick tail that wagged at the slightest provocation.

Abby never met another creature, human or otherwise, that she didn't love at first sight. She exulted in running, often with her hindquarters hunkered down as only Labs can. And she loved to ride in the front seat of my truck, eager to go wherever the moment might take us.

She also had a clock in her head. Otherwise, I can't explain why, after discovering Frosty Paws at about age 5, she stood by the refrigerator pawing at the door every evening at 8 expecting the night's treat.

Then at 10, she would get up from wherever she was lying and stand there impatiently waiting for us to follow her to the bedroom for the evening's repose.

I could go on about Abby, but, suffice it to say, hardly a day goes by that I don't think about her and chuckle over something she did. And sometimes shed a little tear.

So what do Abby and Jet have to do with anything in this town? After the 2008 election, Huckabee became a cable TV personality with his successful Saturday evening show on Fox News. As it happens, I usually, though not always, agree with Huckabee on the issues of the day. But when I read about his love for Jet, I was reminded that probably anybody anywhere on the political spectrum could do the same thing, given the right circumstances.

Huckabee shared a part of himself in that post that we rarely glimpse in our public figures these days. It's easy to take them for granted because politicians take predictable positions, deliver predictable speeches, cast predictable votes in Congress.

Ditto for the people in the advocacy groups, lobbying outfits and think tanks. Predictable positions, predictable speeches, predictable, predictable, predictable ...

When everything becomes predictable, we tend to forget that out of the public eye these folks have hearts and emotions, suffer setbacks, hope for victories, and laugh and cry over big things and small, just like the rest of us.

Yes, Mr. Dooley was right. Politics ain't beanbag, but wouldn't it be great if Washington's warring parties and factions could somehow recover and nurture a recognition that we all have our Jets and Abbys?

Mark Tapscott is executive editor of The Washington Examiner

Loyal K9 attends church every day waiting owner's return after her death

There is no greater love & devotion than that of our 4 legged friends.

I would like to be able to give this pup a hug as he deserves many, many hugs.

Loyal dog attends mass every day at church where owner's funeral was held, waiting for her to return

• Tommy, a German shepherd, had been adopted by Maria Lochi as a stray
• He would accompany her to church everyday and sit at her feet

By Nick Pisa
PUBLISHED:15:50 GMT, 16 January 2013 - UK MAIL

 

A heartbroken dog whose owner died two months ago is missing her so much he is attending services at the Italian church where her funeral was held patiently waiting for her to return.
Loyal Tommy, a seven-year-old German Shepherd, belonged to Maria Margherita Lochi, 57, and had been her faithful companion after she adopted him when she found him abandoned in fields close to her home.
Mrs Lochi adopted several strays she found but friends said she developed a particular close affection for Tommy and would walk to church with him from her home every day - where the priest would allow him to sit patiently by her feet.

Pining: Tommy the German Shepherd waits faithfully during Mass at the church where his owner Maria Margherita Lochi's funeral was held

 

Following her death at San Donaci near Brindisi, a funeral service was held at which Tommy joined mourners and since then he has been a regular at the church arriving on time when the bells ring out to mark the start of services.

 

Father Donato Panna said:''He's there every time I celebrate Mass and is very well behaved - he doesn't make a sound, I've not heard one bark from him in all the time he has been coming in.

'He used to come to Mass with Maria and he was obviously devoted to her - I let him stay inside as he was always so well behaved and none of the other parishoners ever complained to me.
'He's still coming to Mass even after Maria's funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn't have the heart to throw him out - I've just recently lost my own dog so I leave him there until Mass finishes and then I let him out.

Sad: Heartbroken Tommy, a seven year old German shepherd, had been adopted by Maria Margherita Lochi, 57, after she found him wandering fields behind her house in San Donaci near Brindisi, Italy

Routine: Tommy and Maria would walk to church together every day - where the priest would allow him to sit patiently by her feet

 

'Tommy's been adopted by everyone in the village now and he is everybody's friend. Everyone looks out for him and leaves food for him - although it would be nice to find a proper home for him.'

The story of Tommy is similar to the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster Hachi starring Richard Gere which told of how a faithful Akita dog waits patiently for his master after he also dies.
It was based on the true story of a Japanese Akita called Hachiko, whose owner died in 1925 but for the next nine years he waited patiently at a railway station for his owner from where they regularly caught a train

Veterans Administration refuses to provide Service Dogs for Veterans suffering from PTSD

IF no other post I write ever gets your attention here at US NAVY JEEP, I pray it is this one.

The Veterans Administration has issued a ruling that states they will not provide a service dog to Veterans who suffer from PTSD.

We are talking about providing Man's Best Friends to deserving Veterans as Dogs have proven to help our Veterans, especially those dealing with PTSD.  There are dozens of non-profit organizations that are training service dogs as they have seen that the presence of a trained service dogs helps those who suffer from PTSD.

And the reason why they refuse to offer the invaluable help of man's best friends?  They say there is no "clinical evidence" that Dogs help Veterans with PTSD.  In reality, it comes down to a simple answer - MONEY.  The Government doesn't want to pay for the dogs.

These gov paperpushers will hand themselves lifetime goldplated benefits but won't provide a suffering Veteran with a trained service dog.

I find it hard to believe but these self-serving hacks have put in place a federal rule that documents their refusal to provide an assistance service dogs for Veterans unless the Veteran has mobility, hearing or sight issues. They are hiding behind the usual " Sorry, we don't agree with it, regardless of how many others have proven it " BS.

Service Dogs have been shown to provide great help to those who deal with PTSD.  The number of non-profit agencies working to train dogs for the mission of helping our Veterans are proof enough that Dogs are of great benefit to our Veterans.  These agencies have hundreds of cases where they have placed a trained service dog and it was highly beneificial to the Veteran with PTSD.

My theory is that the pencil-pushers in the beltway don't want to shoulder the cost, just like they have been denying Veterans benefits over the last 7-10 years even though the Veteran meets all the criteria for VA assistance.  No, we got ours and screw you Veterans.

The words I would use on these gutless wonders can't be printed here as it wouldn't be best but I tell you if I got to meet them face to face, I would be using some of my best Sailor/Marine words on them.

There will be a special place in Hell reserved for these dishonorable bureaucrats. I hope one day they understand how wrong they are about how Man's Best Friend's are of great benefit to our Veterans suffering from PTSD.  Of course, by then it will be too late for those who needed the service dogs.


Veteran Affairs won't cover costs of PTSD service dogs by Laura Moss - www.mnn.com
 

More veterans are being diagnosed with PTSD, but there's little research about how service dogs help with this 'invisible disability.'           

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for service dogs assigned to veterans with impaired vision, hearing or mobility, but it will not cover the cost of dogs assigned for mental disabilities like post-traumatic stress disorder, according to new federal regulations.

Many dogs provide support to veterans suffering from PTSD, but although more veterans are being diagnosed with the anxiety disorder, the VA says there's not enough evidence that these dogs help with the symptoms of combat-related disabilities. A new Army policy has already made it more difficult for soldiers to obtain service dogs and keep them on Army bases.

There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that service dogs help veterans cope with PTSD, but research lags and the VA is skeptical.

"VA has not yet been able to determine that these dogs provide a medical benefit to veterans with mental illness. Until such a determination can be made, VA cannot justify providing benefits for mental health service dogs," the department said.

There have been no double-blind, randomized controlled trials on the benefits of service dog and PTSD patients, and there are no widely accepted standards for training dogs to alleviate PTSD symptoms.

Researchers at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla., are conducting the first study to look at benefits of pairing veterans with PTSD with specially trained dogs. Congress recommended the three-year study, permitting the Department of Veterans Affairs to match as many as 200 veterans with dogs, but only 17 participants are currently enrolled.

Three service dog organizations partnered with the hospital to conduct the study, but Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) is the only association still involved in the research. The organization trains PTSD service dogs to perform such tasks as awakening clients from nightmares and reminding them to take medication.

Carol Borden, GAMSD’s executive director, says she’s seen dramatic improvements in veterans’ lives after they’ve been matched with dogs.

"The results are very immediate. They’re very quick. It’s not a cure, but they are able to manage their challenges much better than they have in years,” Borden told NBC News.

Demand for PTSD service dogs is high, according to Borden, who says that most recipients spend four years on her organization’s waiting list.

Determining the need for service dogs

 

It’s estimated that 13 to 20 percent of the more than 2.6 million Americans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 have or could develop PTSD.

But unlike service dogs for people with more obvious physical disabilities, there can sometimes be confusion over who can have a dog accompany them into certain places. The American Disabilities Act requires businesses to allow people with disabilities to enter with service animals, but dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, according to the ADA, dogs that calm a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack are considered a reasonable modification to ADA policies.

Service dogs assist disabled people with specific tasks like opening doors and pulling wheelchairs. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, provide comfort, motivation and emotional support. With proper documentation they can often be taken onto planes and other spaces where animals aren’t usually allowed.

Although PTSD service dogs are trained to respond to certain cues, such as nudging an owner into a petting session if he exhibits panic attack symptoms, and to perform tasks like reminding him to take medications, some people are skeptical of the idea that a dog can assist with a so-called "invisible" disability.

However, there’s evidence that interacting with animals produces biochemical changes in some people’s brains.

Research shows that when people focus on petting a dog, it can increase oxytocin, a chemical that quiets the brain’s fear response. Caring for a pet also helps people become more secure and self-sufficient, according to Hal Herzog, a psychology professor at Western Carolina University.

Training service dogs can also be a form of therapy, according to Rick Yount, founder of Warrior Canine Connection, an organization that has PTSD patients train service dogs. After completing a 2008 training program at a veteran’s hospital, many participants reported lower stress levels, decreased depression, better impulse control and improved sleep.

Yount says that it might be most effective for veterans with PTSD to train a service dog before receiving one themselves.

"They have to convince the dog the world is a safe place, rather than letting the dog prove to them that the world is a safe place,” he told MSNBC.

For more information on service dogs, visit the International Assistance Dog Week website.

 

So many more to be saved...

It is all a matter of perspective - as the sticker on my truck says, " Who rescued who??"

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

By Janine Allen

SEMPER FIDOS - Military Dogs Are Our Military's Best Friends

SEMPER FIDOS - Man's Best Freinds are a true " Force Multiplier" out here in Afghanistan

After the fight, they can heal the wounds of war just by being there for our wounded warriors.

 

"I'M GUS. I LIKE BEEF JERKY." - NOWZAD Dogs rescues Soldier's K9 friends in Afghanistan

CADG is a international logistics and construction company working here in Afghanistan.  They have assisted NOWZAD DOGS in rescuing dogs that Soldiers have rescued from Afghanistan.

I am glad to share the good news of how people can make a difference when they try - It made a big difference for Gus and other dogs in need along with the Soldiers who love their 4 legged companions.

" I'm Gus . I like Beef Jerky. "

Gus  the  dog (left), Gus  with  Louise from Nowzad Dogs, her  Afghan  assistant,  and two pilots (right)

Soldiers who work out on the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) often work for the better part of a year, isolated from family and friends, working in some of the harshest environments in Afghanistan. They are often subject to dangerous or deadly situations that can often take their toll. Soldiers often look for anything to take their minds off of where they are including befriending a stray dog or cat.

Since soldiers have been going to war, they have been befriending stray animals that they find out in the field or wander into camp. It’s a simple act of humanitarianism that has mutual benefit: a stray dog or cat gets food and comfort, and the soldier has a loyal companion. It is a powerful bond. In the Vietnam War, John Laurence, a reporter who covered the battle of Hue found a kitten in the ruins, cleaned the cat up and eventually took him home. Even though the cat was vicious, he couldn’t part with it. He ended up writing The Cat from Hue that became a best seller, documenting how the cat became a beloved family pet.

Afghanistan is filled with stray dogs and cats. They often congregate around the bases because they can pick through the garbage and find morsels of food. The Afghans keep dogs for fighting and often release the dogs who don’t win who then become wild. Go to any of the ISAF bases and you’ll see the animals, running in and out of the gates or rummaging through the garbage, searching for scraps. It’s a heartbreaking situation.

The problem is, after the deployment, the soldier goes home and has to part with the animal under their care. Even if the soldier wants the animal, due to regulations, the military won’t let the animals on the aircraft.

This is where Nowzad Dogs comes into the story. They are an NGO that have one mission: to rescue the cats and dogs that have become the soldier’s or sailors pets, get them medically checked, and send them on to their owners in America, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa; anywhere where ISAF troops or contractors have come from.

Started by a Royal Marine sergeant who wanted his camp dog brought home to England, Nowzad Dogs (Nowzad is the FOB in Helmand province where the sergeant was posted and became the charity namesake) relies completely on generous donations to operate the charity and get the dogs home. The sailor or soldier has to pay a certain amount up front. Then a page on the website is set up to ask for donations for the particular animal. Moving the animals can be extremely expensive and complex and Nowzad is always in dire need of funds.

CADG has stepped in to provide logistics free of cost. We fly the animals from specific military bases to Kabul and deliver the dog or cat to representatives of Nowzad who then clean up the animals and get their transport out of Afghanistan to their new home. It’s our way of providing a service to the ISAF soldiers. They spend the better part of a year with the animal and it becomes a pet, a companion who makes their experience in Afghanistan tolerable.

I watched as Gus the dog was loaded on to the plane in his crate at Camp Bastion with a small sign that said “ I'M Gus. I Like Beef Jerky”. A true mutt, he looks like he has a lot of Border Collie combined with a dash of Corgie and a few other breeds all mixed in. When we landed in Kabul, we had no idea what to expect of his temperament. When the door was opened, he came out, wagged his tail, ate some beef jerky and drank some water out of his bowl. His owner Zach, a sailor who has gone back to the States, will be reunited with Gus in about a month after the dog has been health checked and readied for transport with all the proper documents and certificates.

Gus’ story is an all too common one. But with donations, Nowzad Dogs will continue to care and transport the animals to their owners. And CADG is more than happy to help!

For more information or to make a donation, please have a look at www.nowzad.com

SEMPER FIDO - Marine Seeks to Adopt Military Dog

SEMPER FIDO....Let's hope these two Marines get reunited soon.

Marine Seeks to Adopt Military Dog
Saturday, 10 Mar 2012
MYFOXNY.COM -

A former Marine is hitting bureaucratic red tape in her quest to adopt the military service dog she served with in Iraq before it is put down.

Former Corporal Megan Leavey, of Rockland County, wants to take in a German shepherd named Sergeant Rex. They hunted for IEDs on Iraq during two tours of duty.

They were both severely injured in Iraq when an IED exploded near them. The dog is 10 years old now and can no longer serve.

"This is not (the Marines) first priority," Leavey admits, "A lot of times it gets lost in the shuffle."

But time is running out for the faithful dog.

"He's done his duty. It's time for him to relax," Leavey says.

Sen. Charles Schumer has stepped in and has asked the military to expedite Leavey's application to adopt Sergeant Rex before he is put to sleep.

"The Marines don't have a reason against reuniting them, it is mainly a paperwork dely."

Know Your Labs...

Barrowed from another fine blogger and too funny not to share with you...

I Love My Black Lab " Dale "...He is a cool dog who just goes along with life and who loves his tennis ball and/or squeaky toys.

Marines and Dogs.....Semper Fidos

Marines love Dogs. The USMC are the best fighting force devised by man but most of them have a real soft spot when it comes to our 4 legged friends.

Case in point - A small puppy wandered up to U.S. Marines from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 6th Marines, in Marjah, Afghanistan. After following the Marines numerous miles, a soft hearted Marine picked the puppy up and carried the puppy in his drop pouch.

I can understand and while it is against regulations for the Marine to have the puppy, Command turns a blind eye to this as at places like Marjah, having a dog there provides both security and something to give the Marines a touch of home.

Caring for a small pup gives each Marine in that Battalion something to warm their heart. To see the caring this pup will get shows that our Marines care for those who need them the most.

Semper Fidos to the U.S. Marines from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 6th Marines, in Marjah, Afghanistan. Take care of that pup.