Results tagged “Baghdad Pups” from South Bay Pets

This is Nubs, a wiry German shepherd-border collie mix who got his name because someone cut off his ears as a puppy.

Picking up on an ABC story, Dog Clothes Horse blog posted this week about Nubs who was adopted by Maj. Brian Dennis in Iraq. Dennis took a liking to the animal, one of a pack of desert dogs that lived at one of the Iraqi border forts his unit patrolled. The Marines treated a wound in Nubs' side, caused by a screwdriver, and nursed him back to health.

But when Dennis' unit had to relocate 70 miles from Nubs' home fort, the loyal pup wasn't about to be left behind.

As always, Nubs sprinted alongside the Hummers as they pulled away for what Dennis assumed was the last time he would see the dog. Two days later, Nubs wandered inexplicably in below-freezing conditions into Dennis' new camp, shocking the Marine unit.

"When he arrived he looked like he'd just been through a war zone. Uh, wait a minute, he had," Dennis wrote. Nubs' miraculous journey forced the Marine's hand, and Dennis and his fellow Marines unanimously decided to keep the animal.

"This dog who had been through a lifetime of fighting, war, and abuse had tracked down our team over 70 miles of harsh desert was going to live the good life," Dennis wrote.

 

 

This isn't a new story. Nubs and Dennis were reunited  last March and now live in sunny San Diego. But we figured such an inspirational story was worth revisiting. And we trust that Nubs is, indeed, enjoying the good life.

Nubs is only one of the dogs that has been brought home from Iraq. So this post serves also as a reminder that donations are still being taken for the cause.

Donations to help more of our military personnel bring home dogs that their units have adopted and kept safe from the war can be made to Baghdad Pups -- which also, by the way, has a major local online sponsor, Torrance-based ilovedogs.

 

Related Posts: Iraqi dogs  Cat Lady of Baghdad

Nix the nylon, lose the leather -- if you've got cash to burn on your dog, here's a $1.2 million diamond collar from www.ilovedogs.com.

The Torrance-based Web company touts the "Amour Amour" collar as the "world's most expensive dog collar."

Stunning, one-of-a-kind, we're told, with more than 1,600 hand-set diamonds equalling 52 carats.

But enough about that.

The real mission of i Love Dogs is to foster the bond between owners and their canines. The group is a major sponsor of Operation Baghdad Pups, a program that brings stray dogs befriended by our troops in Iraq back to the states. Josh also posted about the program back in April and you can still donate to the effort by going to www.spca.com and clicking on the "Baghdad Pups" square.

But mainly, iLoveDogs.com offers a unique line of nutritional and herbal supplements designed to keep your dog healthy and happy. "It's all about preventative care," says iLoveDogs General Manager Kimberley Foley.

Kimberley, a local resident, recently appeared on the Lifetime television program Balancing Act where she talked about the importance of pet nutrition.

I heard back from Kaye Zigrand, a local resident who also happens to be on the board of Tippi Hedren's Roar Foundation.

Kaye told me about another worthy charity - one that will not only help animals, but also bring cheer to people who serve in the military.

It seems Kaye's son is currently serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. During his first tour, Sgt. Daniel U. Nelson befriended an abandoned dog. Stray dogs aren't an uncommon site in Iraq, where they can be seen roaming the streets and countryside.

When the men and women come home, they often have to leaved their new pets behind. But a group, Baghdad Pups is working to bring the animals back to the United States.

This is from their Web site:

 Our hearts never fully recover from the loss of a beloved pet. The bond we share with the pets we love is stronger than even death, and the grief we experience at their passing lasts years if not for the rest of our lives. We can never really forget those animals that have touched our hearts and made life more enjoyable with their companionship, playfulness, and unconditional love.

Now imagine that, not death nor sickness, but circumstances dictate that you and your pet must be separated FOREVER. Not only that, but you must leave your healthy pet behind in a hostile environment where its chance of survival is minimal and likelihood of abuse and cruel treatment are all but guaranteed. That is what some of our brave soldiers stationed in the Middle East face today. But the bond our soldiers have formed with these companion animals doesn’t have to be severed this way. Something can be done...

If you're not a dog lover, look at it this way: You're not only helping the animals, you're helping the men and women who served in our armed forces.