The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Afghanistan The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Afghanistan
Showing posts with label Afghanistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afghanistan. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Medal of Honor Recipient’s Needs Your Help: His Service Dog Has to Have Surgery


Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the 2009 battle at COP Keating in Afghanistan, the same battle described by fellow MoH recipient Clinton Romesha in his best-selling book Red Platoon.

Nala is Carter’s service dog and she’s essential to his efforts to deal with post-traumatic stress. The veterinarians tell Ty that Nala has a herniated disc that’s almost severing her spinal cord. If she doesn’t have surgery, she’ll lose her ability to walk.

The government doesn’t recognize service dogs as a treatment for PTSD, or at least not a form that it’s willing to pay for.

There’s a GoFundMe page to help pay for Nala’s surgery. That’s sure to be covered soon. Any of our readers with the influence to get service dogs covered by the government should get on that right away as well.


FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, February 15, 2016

Troops Betrayed as Army Dumps Hundreds of Heroic War Dogs


By then, Daniel had been in Afghanistan two months. It was July 2012, his third tour of duty and his first with Oogie, his military working dog. They were leading their platoon on yet another patrol, clearing a no-name village with maybe 15 houses and one mosque, when they began taking fire.

“The first thing that went through my mind,” he says, “was, ‘S- -t. My dog’s gonna get shot.’ ”

It was a perfect L-shaped ambush, bullets coming from the front and the right, the platoon pinned down in a flat, open landscape. Along the road were shallow trenches, no more than 14 inches deep. Daniel grabbed ­Oogie, squeezed him in a hole, then threw himself over his dog.

It went against all his Army training. “They tell us it’s better for a dog to step on a bomb than a US soldier,” he says. The truth is Daniel, like just about every other dog handler in the armed forces, would rather take the hit himself.

Five weeks into their training, Daniel and Oogie were inseparable. They showered together. They went to the bathroom together. When Daniel ran on the treadmill, Oogie was on the one right next to him, running along.

That week, Daniel got Oogie’s paw print tattooed on his chest.

“The few times you safeguard your dog are slim compared to what he does every time you go outside the wire,” Daniel says. “That’s your dog. The dog saves you and saves your team. You’re walking behind this dog in known IED hot spots. In a firefight, the dog doesn’t understand.”

Bullets were coming closer now; the enemy had long ago picked up on how important the dogs were to the Americans, how successful they were at sniffing out bombs. “I know there were three separate incidents where they shot at ­Oogie,” Daniel says. And as he lay on top of his dog, he stroked him and whispered and kept him calm.

To read more on this story, click here: Troops Betrayed as Army Dumps Hundreds of Heroic War Dogs


FOLLOW US!
/

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Veteran with PTSD Reunited with Military Bomb-Sniffing Dog Partner


Lance Cpl. David Pond and his military working dog, Pablo, were split up when Pond's service ended in 2011. The Marine went home to Colorado, and the dog moved on to stateside assignments.

This was tough on the military veteran who spent seven months in Afghanistan with his military bomb-sniffing dog partner searching for and finding bombs that could take out a platoon.

During that time together, Pond and Pablo survived a number of combat patrols and over 30 firefights.

But now, they were separated and the Marine didn't know if he would ever be reunited with his military dog.

"He was my rock, my foundation," Pond, 27, said of the Belgian Malinois who became his best friend and protector. "He saved my life more than once."

Veteran Faces New Battle at Home

After Lance Cpl. David Pond returned to the U.S., not only did he have to deal with being separated from his military dog, but he was also taking on a new battle.

The Marine veteran was diagnosed with PTSD and also dealing with a traumatic brain injury. It was at this time that Pond made up his mind. He was going to find and reunite with Pablo.

Unlike many veterans who return home and do not get a second chance to be with the military working dog they served with overseas, Pond's story does have a happy ending.

But it wasn't an easy journey. It took four years to reunite with his military dog. The Marine veteran wrote countless letters to politicians, started an online petition and had to cut through a lot of red tape.

In the end, it was well worth it as Lance Cpl. David Pond and Pablo now spend the days together in a much more peaceful manner than they did in Afghanistan.

To learn more about the Marine veteran with PTSD reuniting with his military dog, watch the NBC News video below:



FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, December 14, 2015

This Picture Has Gained a Lot of Attention on Social Media this Week: Military K9 Wearing a Purple Heart Lying on His Side Recovering Under a Patriotic Blanket


Fort Hood, Texas - A picture shared on Facebook by the 89th Military Police Brigade, which is based out of Fort Hood, Texas, has gained a lot of attention on social media this week.

The image shows a military K9, wearing a Purple Heart, lying on his side recovering under a patriotic blanket. According to the post, military working dog “Rocky” and his handler were injured this week during operations in Afghanistan.

“Rocky and his handler are staying in the same room right now as they are receiving treatment for their injuries,” the Facebook post said. “Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they recover during the holiday season.

The image, posted on Wednesday, has been shared more than 55,000 times and has more than 45,000 likes.

Facebook user Breanna Katsonis commented on the photo stating Rocky’s handler is her brother-in-law.

“He and his wife have 2 young children and this is a difficult time for them all,” Katsonis said. “I know they are so grateful for all of the prayers so please keep them coming!”

Friday, the Facebook page Malinois Nation shared another photo of Rocky and his handler. It said they are headed back to the United States for the remainder of their treatment and rehab.

The 89th Military Police Brigade is a combat ready, deployable Military police force assigned to the United States Army Third Armored Corps “Phantom Warriors.”

Please join us in thanking Rocky and his handler for their service. Here's to wishing both a speedy recovery!




FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, May 10, 2015

America’s Most Elite Dog: Enter the World of Military Dogs and Their Handlers (Video)


In this video, we get a backstage pass into the world of military dogs and their handlers, and what difficulties they must face together. From overseas in Afghanistan to the streets of America’s biggest cities, these working dogs serve our country with all of their heart.

it’s worth every minute of your time. Armed with an incredible sense of smell, combined with a work ethic that cannot be compared, these determined dogs have saved countless lives across the world.

FOLLOW US!
/

Saturday, April 18, 2015

As Spc. Matthew Tattersall Prepares to Leave the U.S. Army, He Wanted to Make His Last Jump as a Paratrooper a Memorable One: So He Took His Pet Siamese Fighting Fish Along for a Selfie


As Spc. Matthew Tattersall prepares to leave the U.S. Army, he wanted to make his last jump as a paratrooper a memorable one.

So last weekend, he jumped with Willy MakeIt, his pet Siamese fighting fish.

A selfie Tattersall took of his fish, not out of water, but out of an airplane, went viral on U.S. Army W.T.F.! Moments, a Facebook community popular among troops.

"The picture got way more popular than I thought it would," Tattersall said.

Although social media users were hooked on the image (the photo got more than 15,500 likes), bosses upstream at Fort Bragg, N.C., thought the move was all wet.

Tattersall, who's assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, said he's waiting for the final fallout from his aerial actions. Meanwhile, he has written a 1,000-word essay on the importance of airborne safety and professionalism in the Army.

"When it's all said and done, it wasn't all that safe or professional for me to have done that," Tattersall said.

But the 23-year-old, who calls himself "23 years stupid," said he has no regrets.

"It was worth it," he said. "I'm fully willing to embrace any consequences that come of it, and I hope they're lenient."

Tattersall, an infantryman with a deployment to Afghanistan, joined the Army in 2011, shipping to basic training in January 2012.

He will complete his enlistment on May 20.

His last jump was April 11.

"It was a daytime combat jump, but with me being so close to getting out, I didn't have any gear, so it was a Hollywood jump for me," Tattersall said.

He and his friends have long talked about doing something special for their last jump, but "no one actually went through with it," he said.

So when his turn came, "I wanted to make it awesome, and I did just that," he said.

The night before the jump, Tattersall went to Walmart and bought the fish he named Willy MakeIt.

"It's so random to have it be a fish," he said, crediting a friend for the idea.

Tattersall poked holes in the top of a water bottle so Willy could breathe. "I had his little pod ready," he said.

On jump day, no one knew about the plan Tattersall was hatching, he said.

"I kept it in my pocket, and I was as nonchalant as I possibly could be," he said. "I knew the jumpmasters wouldn't have let that fly. I knew none of the NCOs or other leaders would have let me jump. It was completely on me."

As he jumped from the C-17 and fell to the ground under the canopy of his parachute, Tattersall took a quick selfie.

"I had to be quick, but paratroopers get the job done," he said.

"... Conditions were perfect. I made sure I wasn't around anyone where it would have been a hazard," he said. "But I guess that's famous last words for anyone."

Tattersall and Willy MakeIt made it safely to the ground, and the hardy fish earned a middle name.

He's now Willy Did MakeIt, and he has big dreams.

"Willy and I are trying to go to space," Tattersall said.

But first, Tattersall hopes to be able to move on from the Army honorably. "I have big hopes and big plans for the future," said Tattersall, who aims to start college in the fall.

"I'm proud to be a paratrooper. I wouldn't change a thing about it."



FOLLOW US!
/

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

National Dog Day Turns Into Military Canine Lovefest on Twitter


Veterans and U.S. service members shared pictures of the canines they encountered while deployed.

Perhaps you’ve heard that today is National Dog Day. According to the website devoted to the occasion, it was founded in 2004 to honor dogs for “their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work protecting our streets, homes and families.”

The holiday sparked the hash tag #NationalDogDay, in which Twitter users posted photographs of their favorite dogs. And that quickly turned to veterans and U.S. service members sharing pictures of military working dogs and other canines they encountered while deployed.

Consider this first one, from Thomas Gibbons-Neff:
Click on image to enlarge.

 photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-1_zps5f3862ea.jpg


The Pentagon’s official account also got in on the act:
Click on image to enlarge.

 photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-2_zps78f332b0.jpg


So did the Air Force and the Marines:

                     Click on images to enlarge.

 photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-3_zps25841464.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-4_zps43410145.jpg

Here are a few examples of dogs at work:
                                         
                                             Click on images to enlarge.

 photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-5_zpsbf42ab33.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-6_zps98af8c6e.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-7_zps7962dbd1.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-11_zps57846426.jpg


And some examples of military service dogs getting love:

                                                 Click on images to enlarge.

 photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-8_zps577d6162.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-9_zps2dcf4f60.jpg       photo Militarycelebratesnationaldogday-10_zpsb7c43a95.jpg      






(To subscribe to The Pet Tree House, click on this icon
in the black drop-down menu on your right. Thank you.)


on Twitter @thepettreehouse

Visit my blog! The News Whisperer, An informative blog of what's going on in your world today!
 at: www.whispersoftheworld.com



FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, August 18, 2014

Afghanistan Veteran and His Former Canine Comrade for Two Years, Reunite After they Both Returned from War


Any reunion between two war buddies is bound to be emotional, but after a nationwide search brought together a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran with the bomb-sniffing dog he served with, tears and wags were in order.

Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue served in Afghanistan for seven months with the black lab Moxie, but hadn't seen his former partner for two years.

'I'm very happy, very grateful for the people that made this come together. It's really truly a dream,' Bogue told (WHDH- TV).


Bogue and Moxie were paired up at a training course in North Carolina in 2011 before being deployed to Afghanistan, where they worked to detect improvised explosive devices.

Still, Bogue insists that Moxie did more than just protect his unit from bombs.
"It was comforting and reassuring to myself and my unit to have a dog there in the stressful situations of a combat deployment," he told the Boston Herald.

Bogue said that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and believes that Moxie does too.

After returning to the U.S., Moxie began working with Boston's transit police and was an integral part of security at this year's marathon, searching for explosives on Boston's metro line.

"We did a lot of security work leading up to the last Boston Marathon, we were all over that Green Line," said Chip Leonard, the handler who gave up Moxie.

At the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Leonard was emotional as he saluted Bogue and said goodbye to his trusted partner.

"This was probably one of the toughest things I've ever gone through,' he told WBZ. Leonard later posted to Facebook that Bogue has "got his good pal back with him."

The reunion was made possible by Vietnam vet Lon Hodge, who sent out a call to find Moxie through his blog where he writes about the importance of service dogs to veterans' well-being.

Now that Moxie is retired from service, he'll join the civilian canines at Bogue's home, which include three pit bulls and an Australian shepherd.




Companion: Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue had not seen his former partner Moxie for two years after the pair served together in Afghanistan.




Comfort canine: Bogue says that he and Moxie have PTSD but that his partner's presence with his unit was reassuring.




Service dog: Moxie will be with civilian dogs when he returns to Bogue's home. Here he dozes with Bogue and his unit.

FOLLOW US!
/

Monday, May 14, 2012

Military Dogs Euthanized as 'Equipment' Under Cruel Law



If roadside bombs and other hazards of war don't kill military dogs, senseless government regulations and red tape might.

The United States is breeding 100 puppies a year to train for bomb sniffing and other soldierly duties, but many aren't making it back to happy homes because an obscure federal law classifies them as "equipment" rather than personnel, and makes adopting them a financial and bureaucratic nightmare. A bill to require that the military ship the heroic dogs home and ease potential veterinarian costs for adopting families is currently bogged down in Congress, as dogs continue to be euthanized.



FOLLOW US!
/

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Soldier and Dog’s Reunion Video - A Web Hit!



How do you say "welcome home" in dog? We're pretty sure this Great Dane, Emmitt, nicknamed "Thunderpaws," got his super-excited message across.

The overgrown pooch was reuniting with his dad, Trevor Chowder, who was returning from deployment in Afghanistan after spending nine months apart.

The loving giant, who is normally not allowed to jump up (you'll see why when you watch the video — he's as tall as his human companion) stares into Trevor's eyes and gives him a hug while standing on his hind legs.



Here's another video showing a soldier and dog's reunion:

Reunion shows dog's unconditional love (VIDEO)

To say that this boxer, Chuck, was excited to see dad come home is an understatement.  He jumps out of the suv to greet him!  The family went through the same thing last year when he came home.


FOLLOW US!
/

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

GIs Reward their Best Friends - The Dogs of War


Living thousands of miles from family and loved ones and facing the dangers of war often take a toll on U.S. troops. But inject some of that old-fashioned unconditional love and things become just a little more bearable.



This is the kind of story that warms my heart. I hope it warms yours too! FOLLOW US!
/

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Saluting The Troops - Dogs Welcoming Their Troops Home - Videos


Marine Maj. Brian Dennis returned from Iraq and was reunited with Nubs, the street mutt he and his fellow soldiers rescued and, with help from friends and family, had shipped back to the United States.

This article is a little different than most that I write. I am dedicating this article to the Troops that have already come home, and to those who will be returning in the near future.


When Troops are deployed, they of course, have to leave their family. Did you know that some of these Troops have dogs and must provide care for them while they are gone… sometimes for months? While it is heart breaking for these Troops to leave their families and dogs…the homecoming is well worth it!

My article consists of several heart-warming videos showing the greetings that some Troops received from their dogs when they returned home. The Troops in these videos are already home…but I am sure that we will see more of these as more Troops arrive.

Looking at these video’s you can feel the love that these dogs have for their Troops, and the Troops have for their dogs! You will need tissues!

Please click on the links below to view these videos. Adjust your speakers, there is a lot of barking love in these videos!

                                     






(This video is really cute. The kid moves out of the way and let's the dog have daddy!)


FOLLOW US!
/

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Are Dogs Really Mans Best Friend?


Are dogs really mans best friend? For years dogs have been used by man to accomplish many goals for mankind. For instance, did you know that Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs where used in 9ll to look for victims buried underneath the rubble? This was considered the largest deployment of search dogs in U.S. history, using between 350 – 500 search dogs.

Dogs are currently being used by the military in Afghanistan to detect roadside bombs. The dogs of choice are usually Belgian malinois, German shepherds and Labradors, and are called bomb-sniffing dogs. These dogs even have service numbers tattooed inside their ears. While they are considered working dogs…they still enjoy getting treats and playing with the Soldiers!

Additionally, dogs are used in prison settings to search for weapons, drugs and cell phones. They are also used in prison based dog training programs, called “Rehabilitation for Canine and Human”. This program allows the inmate who has received training the responsibility of raising and training dogs from animal shelters. Some of these dogs are used for people with disabilities or available for adoption.

So, as you can see dogs play an important role in our lives, not only as pets, but they serve as: Police dogs, Fire dogs, Bomb sniffing dogs, Guide dogs for the disabled, Search and Rescue dogs, Guard dogs for home and property, Military dogs, Therapy dogs, and loving companions!


                                                                Click on image to enlarge.
                                                                 photo mansbestfriend_zps70d40745.png FOLLOW US!
/