Paws To Salute Army Hero

[Mila's Mum]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/...6-1225942971450

A LONG and often lonely tour of duty will end happily when old war dog Sarbi is finally reunited with her original handler.

The Army bomb detector dog who dodged bullets on her own for over a year after getting lost in an ambush in Afghanistan could be home for Christmas.

And it will be a miraculous home-coming, fit for a hero, after an amazing story of survival following Sarbi's separation from Australian troops there. Already, a book has been penned on the back of Sarbi's return to the ranks - after having possibly been forced to bunker down with the enemy.

And the RSPCA has plans to make her Australia's first Army dog to be awarded a prestigious Purple Cross for exceptional service to humans.

"Sarbi's story is an amazing tale of survival while on the run for a year and with all the risks associated with being lost in a war environment," said president Dr Hugh Wirth.

"The award will be presented to her as soon as the Army notifies us she's back and out and about, because we can't wait to drape that medal around her neck."

After the hardship of Afghanistan, the old black Labrador can look forward to having balls - not grenades - lobbed at her.

"Once she returns home and gets through quarantine, Sarbi will be adopted by her original handler, who also happens to be her current handler, and spend the rest of her days as a family dog," Defence said in a statement.

Her survival story has made her a canine celeb, with people from around the world writing to her. Defence staff pen her replies.

On her second tour of duty in September 2008 Sarbi went missing from her unit and was feared dead.

But a US soldier found her over a year later and, recognising her special qualities, helped her to a joyful reunion with Aussie troops.

She has spent the past six months in mandatory quarantine period in Dubai ahead of her clearance home.

Defence has confirmed she is due to return to Australia in December, and must spend another month in quarantine here.

[sebastion 2]

What an amazing story, a real tear jerker :D Great news that she has a loving home to go to. If only she could talk boy would she have some stories to tell.

[gsdog2]

After all that Sarbi's been through you couldn't ask for a better way for her to spend her "retirement" - she deserves to be spoilt

[mita]

I reckon that the US soldier who found Sarbi & recognised her qualities as a trained dog, should get recognition, too.

Maybe a free trip to Australia to stand by Sarbi & her handler's side, when she's awarded with her Purple Cross.

Click on Gallery, for 21 pics of Sarbi, taken by defence personnel in Afghanistan & in Dubai where she's in quarantine (& getting visited by Australian Air Force personnel for games of ball):

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/artic..._newsphoto.html

Edited October 31, 2010 by mita

[Mila's Mum]

I reckon that the US soldier who found Sarbi & recognised her qualities as a trained dog, should get recognition, too.

Maybe a free trip to Australia to stand by Sarbi & her handler's side, when she's awarded with her Purple Cross.

Great idea - maybe you could write and suggest it to them

[poochmad]

What a lovely story.

[Sunnyflower]

I reckon that the US soldier who found Sarbi & recognised her qualities as a trained dog, should get recognition, too.

Maybe a free trip to Australia to stand by Sarbi & her handler's side, when she's awarded with her Purple Cross.

Great idea - maybe you could write and suggest it to them

Wonderful idea.

[Robbi]

Sarbi's journey to Afghanistan and back is nothing short of an epic journey, I hope one day they write a book about it....

I am so glad the defence force has allowed Sarbi to come home

[mita]

I reckon that the US soldier who found Sarbi & recognised her qualities as a trained dog, should get recognition, too.

Maybe a free trip to Australia to stand by Sarbi & her handler's side, when she's awarded with her Purple Cross.

Great idea - maybe you could write and suggest it to them

Wonderful idea.

I did some googling to try to find the name of the US soldier. But every source said that he can only be known as 'John' for security reasons. Maybe it's because he's still serving in Afghanistan.

So we're out of luck that he'd be able to come to Oz to be beside Sarbi.

But he shouldn't be forgotten. Perhaps one day, when he's done his US army tour of duty, he could still get an invitation. There's an Australian Army War Dogs Association....good people. They might tuck the idea away for the near future. (They put on a lovely memorial service for Herbie, the Australian Army bomb detection dog killed in Afghanistan alongside his handler.)