mrnhtbr2232
20th November 2010, 05:11 PM
mrnhtbr2232 note: If she had been my dog, I would have been all over people - every pound and city official, call my city councilman at home, everything non-stop and not finished until I had her on a leash again. No way I would have waited over the weekend. Things like this are when money talks and it's worth every cent. And what's up with no license? Did the dog just not have it on at the time it escaped or was she never licensed to begin with? (Despite being state tribute I believe a dog license can be a ticket home, and I don't support RFID on principle).
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Afghan hero dog Target euthanized
* November 18th, 2010 10:47 pm ET
Rufus, Sasha, and Target were stray dogs from Dand Aw Patan district in eastern Paktia Province near the Pakistani border and had been adopted and cared for by American soldiers. In February a suicide bomber wearing 11kg of explosives entered an American soldier barracks in Afghanistan, stopped for a moment to pray, and was attacked by the three growling dogs. The animals woke up the 50 soldiers, and the bomb detonated in the doorway. Five soldiers were wounded, and Sasha's injuries were so severe she did not survive. Had it not been for the dogs, all the soldiers would have perished.
In July after their wounds had healed, the two surviving dogs were flown home and honored as heroes. Target, a yellow two-year-old German shepherd-mix appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Target captured the hearts of Americans across the nation with her unassuming yet warm disposition. She went to live with the family of Sgt. Terry Young in Arizona, the Army medic who treated the wounded soldiers and witnessed the bravery of the dogs.
All had been going well for Target, and she was living the charmed life with Sgt.Young's family until the dog accidentally escaped from her home one day and was picked up by the local Pinal County Animal Care and Control in Casa Grande. The dog had no tags, microchip, or license, however her picture went up on the shelter's website on Friday, and Sgt. Young saw it. He called the shelter and paid the fees, and because it was a Friday thought the dog would have to be picked up on Monday.
Monday morning Sergeant Young arrived at the shelter to pick up Target, and an attendant brought out the wrong dog. Young showed the attendant the photo of Target, and found out the wrong dog had been euthanized.
"I am heartsick over this," Ruth Stalter, county's animal care and control director said in a prepared statement. "I had to tell the dog's owner, and he and his family are understandably distraught. When it comes to euthanizing an animal, there are some clear cut procedures to follow. Based on my preliminary investigation, our employee did not follow these procedures."
Sergeant Young's four-year-old daughter demanded that the poison be taken out of Target so the dog could come home.
Target's name reflected the Afghan men who were constantly trying to kill her. Target will be cremated.
Rest in peace Target.
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Afghan hero dog Target euthanized
* November 18th, 2010 10:47 pm ET
Rufus, Sasha, and Target were stray dogs from Dand Aw Patan district in eastern Paktia Province near the Pakistani border and had been adopted and cared for by American soldiers. In February a suicide bomber wearing 11kg of explosives entered an American soldier barracks in Afghanistan, stopped for a moment to pray, and was attacked by the three growling dogs. The animals woke up the 50 soldiers, and the bomb detonated in the doorway. Five soldiers were wounded, and Sasha's injuries were so severe she did not survive. Had it not been for the dogs, all the soldiers would have perished.
In July after their wounds had healed, the two surviving dogs were flown home and honored as heroes. Target, a yellow two-year-old German shepherd-mix appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Target captured the hearts of Americans across the nation with her unassuming yet warm disposition. She went to live with the family of Sgt. Terry Young in Arizona, the Army medic who treated the wounded soldiers and witnessed the bravery of the dogs.
All had been going well for Target, and she was living the charmed life with Sgt.Young's family until the dog accidentally escaped from her home one day and was picked up by the local Pinal County Animal Care and Control in Casa Grande. The dog had no tags, microchip, or license, however her picture went up on the shelter's website on Friday, and Sgt. Young saw it. He called the shelter and paid the fees, and because it was a Friday thought the dog would have to be picked up on Monday.
Monday morning Sergeant Young arrived at the shelter to pick up Target, and an attendant brought out the wrong dog. Young showed the attendant the photo of Target, and found out the wrong dog had been euthanized.
"I am heartsick over this," Ruth Stalter, county's animal care and control director said in a prepared statement. "I had to tell the dog's owner, and he and his family are understandably distraught. When it comes to euthanizing an animal, there are some clear cut procedures to follow. Based on my preliminary investigation, our employee did not follow these procedures."
Sergeant Young's four-year-old daughter demanded that the poison be taken out of Target so the dog could come home.
Target's name reflected the Afghan men who were constantly trying to kill her. Target will be cremated.
Rest in peace Target.