Shed A Tear
Why weep? It was only a dog. A dog that proved itself to be an exemplar of that old adage that a dog is man's best friend. A loyal dog, who adopted U.S. troops in Afghanistan, just as the U.S. troops adopted the stray dog, a shepherd mix whom they named Target, and who became a recognized hero.In war zones, in impoverished countries wracked by unrest and danger, dogs that no one appears to care for, dogs that become feral animals, seeking any advantage they can to help themselves survive a climate inclement for humans, let alone domesticated dogs, can be seen in packs, hungry and ill and looking for shelter.
On occasion soldiers, returning from a foreign country they have been posted to, have returned bringing with them mangy strays that they befriended and cared for. Some of these dogs became camp mascots and were loyal to the men who cared for them. Dogs are no different than humans; they aspire to be loved and valued.
Target was one of three dogs who were adopted by U.S. troops when the three were found wandering about - and into their military compound. There is a natural affinity between men and dogs, particularly when the men find themselves far from all that is familiar to them, and the dogs are only too willing to fill in for absent memories.
Target and two other strays were adopted, and they lived in the military compound with the American soldiers. A suicide bomber entered the compound and the three dogs were alerted to the infiltrator's presence and attacked him. The bomber set off his munitions and one dog died, while the other two were injured.
Target survived his ordeal, and he accompanied one of the American soldiers back home to the United States. And he lived with that soldier's family in Arizona. But somehow Target went astray and he was found by local animal control administrators and placed in the Pinal County Animal Care and Control.
An employee at the shelter determined that Target was a ripe candidate for euthanization. Normally, it is the shelter's protocol to seek the owners of the dogs they welcome into the shelter, for the purpose of re-uniting them. For some truly impressively stupid reason this was not done in Target's case.
"I'm heartsick over this. I had to personally deliver the news to the dog's owner and he and his family are understandably distraught", explained the shelter's Director, Ruth Stalter. One might imagine he would be.
Labels: Afghanistan, Human Fallibility, That's Life, United States
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, November 17, 2010
<< Home