Dog back after a year MIA in Afghanistan

This is such a wonderful and uplifting story, so you know I just had to share it with you all.  I think about all the animals that are regularly displaced because of the weather, because of war, because of the actions of people.  I recognize that I cannot save every animal that is lost, but I do relish the pleasure of a story about a found lost dog.

I know that if my little man were to be lost, I would also be lost.  I would have to move mountains and earth until I had found him, so the story below really moves me.

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By Kathryn Tancos, CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Sabi was bomb sniffer for Australian special forces
• American soldier finds K-9, returns her to Aussies
• Dog disappeared during 2008 firefight in which handler was wounded
• 4-year-old Lab must be quarantined before returning to Australia

(CNN) -- An Australian special forces dog has been found alive and well more than a year after going missing in action in Afghanistan.
Explosives detection dog Sabi was recovered by a U.S. soldier who found her wandering near an isolated patrol base in the desolate southern province of Oruzgan last week, according to the Australian Government Department of Defense.
John, the U.S. soldier, who was identified only by first name, knew his Australian counterparts were missing an explosive detection dog. He knew immediately that Sabi was not a stray.
"I took the dog and gave it some commands it understood," he said.
When she disappeared, the black Labrador was nearing the end of her second tour of duty in Afghanistan. She went missing in September 2008 when insurgents ambushed a combined Australian, U.S. and Afghan army convoy. Nine Australian soldiers, including Sabi's handler, were wounded during the gunbattle.
Trooper Mark Donaldson, currently in the United Kingdom after meeting Queen Elizabeth, said Sabi's return closed a chapter of their shared history.
"She's the last piece of the puzzle," Donaldson said. "Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It's a fantastic morale booster for the guys."
The 4-year-old canine was flown to the Australian base of Tarin Kowt to be reunited with one of her trainers.
"I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It's a game we used to play over and over again during her training," said the trainer, whose name was withheld for security reasons. "It's amazing, just incredible, to have her back."

Sabi will now undergo quarantine before a decision is made about when she can return to Australia. A veterinary assessment into possible exposure to diseases is under way. If the tests prove negative, Sabi will be cleared to return home.

Links referenced within this article dog http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Dogs Afghanistan http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Afghanistan_War Australian http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Australian_Armed_Forces

Related articles by Zemanta

• Hero's return - and a shower - for Sabi, Australia's bomb sniffing dog, after year lost in Afghan desert (guardian.co.uk)
• War Dog Found Months After Afghan Ambush (news.sky.com)

Jessica is saved!

I just read my email and found that Jessica, the cute little rattie I featured on the last posting, has been adopted and now has a new forever home.  I hope she is loved and treated like family at her new home.  I can't imagine what it must be like to live most of your life in a cage, so I hope she has a big yard to play in.

It's not often that you get such quick Good News in the area of rescues.  Just goes to show you what a cutie she is and what good taste the new family has.  Rat terriers are the best pets you can ever have. 

Good Luck, Jessica.  Enjoy your new home.

Help me save Jessica.

This is a plea to save a little rattie out in California.  She is in dire need of a foster or forever home before her elderly owner succumbs to pancreatic cancer and she ends up at the pound.  If you, or anyone you know can help this lovely little one, please, please contact Patti whose email is listed at the end of this post.

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This little dog is looking for a home quickly or will be brought to the pound.  She is a rat terrier and weights about 12 to 15 lbs at most.  She is a bit shy at first, but warms up quickly.  She was potty trained, but now will use newspapers and would probably catch on quickly again to go outside and do her business.  She is learning to walk on a leash because she always had the backyard to use.  She is also great with other dogs, but not sure on cats.  Her neighbors are trying to help rehome the dog and they can't keep her so they are just trying to help her. If you aren't interested in her please forward it onto your friends and e-mail list   The owner was 83 yrs old yesterday and has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given about a month to live.  Jessica (the dog) was kept mostly in a kenneled cage we think because the women was just a little too old to handle a young pup.  She loves to run the yard and play.  She is a spayed 2 ½ yr old dog.   If interested in taking her please contact Patti 818-717-8575 or patti@pattirussell.com

Satchmo's latest vet visit

Took the little man to the vet this morning.  He was the perfect gentleman and did not evacuate his bladder or bowel in the building.  We saw a different vet, so he was just a bit nervous. 

Anyway, with some difficulty, the vet got a good look inside his mouth after I explained about his habit of rubbing the right side of his face on the carpet or pawing frantically at it.  According to the vet, his mouth is healing quite well, but there is still some inflamation and drainage.  We are to stay on the antibiotic and he got another round of pain medications. 

The biggest issue was getting the stitches removed from his leg.  Satch howled like we were killing him when the vet tried to use the suture removal tool.  With quite a struggle, we did finally get all four stitches out and it looks really good. 

So, I think the little man is on the mend.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  He is my delight.

Satchmo is off his food!

I'm now becoming worried about my little man.  He has turned his nose up at his food now for the second day in a row.  He will eat cheese if I hand feed him, but nothing else.  His bodily functions are all normal so I wonder if his mouth is hurting him.  He has begun to really paw at his muzzle again and loves for you to scratch the sides of his mouth.  I wonder if dogs can get dry sockets like people can?  If so, I am worried that he has developed this painful situation.  Today the vet will be closed and tomorrow I have to work so I will have to make do until I can get him in on Monday.  Anyway, I had saved two of his pain pills so I gave him one this morning.  Hope it helps.

Dog Falls for Cat

Here's another cute video about a rattie and a cat!  Watch it and see what happens. 
This little rattie is really so cute!  These dogs are truly intelligent and loving. 
Enjoy the video...

Satchmo is healing well and feeling much better!

It's been a week today since Satch's ordeal with the vet and his lost teeth.  I am being religious about his antibiotic and he seems to be healing quite nicely.  He still is scratching at his muzzle, but not quite as frantically.  I think his mouth must itch as it is healing, but he eats a soft diet without any problem and he has become much livelier and stubborn--more like himself.

He has begun to play with his toys again, much to the chagrin of the foster dog, Austen.  Austen had begun to believe that the toys were all his and yesterday, Satchmo had to explain the facts to Austen--complete with loud growling and snapping and barking.  Austen is no dummy and immediately gave up the toys!

Satchmo has also begun to be very loving again.  His breath is so much better!  He is a licker, has been his whole life, so having improved breath is really good.

Next week, he needs to go back for a checkup and to get his stitches out on his leg.  He never even looks at that incision anymore so I know it has been healing well.  I can only hope that his follow-up gives him a clean bill of health.  He is my little man and I want him to be happy and healthy as we move into the new year.

Satchmo lost 10 teeth!

Our trip to the vet Wednesday went well.  I guess losing 10 teeth during a cleaning can be classified as going well.  According to the vet, my little man had several loose teeth and three definite abcessed teeth.  She felt that to make him well she had to pull the teeth and pack his mouth with antibiotics.  While he was out, he also had that ugly thing removed from his leg.  So, needless to say, he is not a very happy camper. 

I am being religious about giving him his antibiotic and his pain medication.  He whimpers and cries if I am even a few minutes late on his dose.  I feel so bad for him.  I wish this had not happened, but it has and we just have to deal with it. 

On a good note, his appetite is returning and he is eating soft foods without any trouble.  So far, he has not really bothered his stitches, but his mouth is still bothering him--he keeps pawing at his muzzle.  I took the collar off him at home because he was so miserable in it.  I may have to put it back on if he keeps scratching at his mouth.

So, for Christmas this year, I gave myself a healthier little man.  For that I am eternally grateful.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas!

 This is the cutest video.  I just had to post it here for you to enjoy.  These dogs certainly have a knack for decorating.  I hope you and yours have a wonderful and happy holiday season!

Something new to worry about!

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Pet dog recovers from H1N1
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CBC News

A dog in New York has been confirmed to have the pandemic
strain of H1N1.

The pet, a 13-year-old mixed breed, seemed to have caught
the virus from his owner, Michael San Filippo, a spokesman
for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said Tuesday.

It is the first reported case of H1N1 in a dog, but other
pets, including cats and ferrets, have caught the strain
from humans, veterinarians say.

In theory, the strain could be transmitted from a pet to a
human, "but so far it's really looking like a dead end in
pets," San Filippo said.

The dog came in for a checkup Tuesday and is "getting back
to his old self" but has not fully recovered, said veterinarian
Julie Steffens.

It is rare for pets to spread flu viruses, and people should
not be afraid to enjoy the animals, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Okay, I knew that the ferret and cat had contracted the H1N1, but now I have to worry about my little man getting the Swine Flu? 


Great! This comes in my email today after I have dropped Satchmo off at the vet's office for his yearly teeth cleaning and to get that ugly thing taken off his front leg.  Now, I have to worry if his immune system will be depressed after this procedure and keep him away from all other dogs!


Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to be a nurse because you know too much about how these things work.  The only good thing for me to focus on is that I got both flu shots and so did my sister, so the chances of him catching the "flu" from us is nil. 


If it's not one thing, it is millions of others!


By the way,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Satchmo is going to the Vet on Wednesday--Oh boy!

Well, I finally broke down and made the appointment for my little man to go get his teeth cleaned.  He has started not wanting to eat crunchy foods, which usually means trouble.  The last time that happened, he lost 9 teeth with the cleaning.  Anyway, I am mildly excited because he will have the growth on his foreleg removed at the same time.  I am so happy because that growth is really worrying me.  It is ugly and is still growing.  He won't stop bothering it, either, so the hair around it is constantly wet and grey and looks disgusting!

So, wish us luck--we want this to go smoothly so my little man can get back up to snuff soon!

Here is the latest on the Foster Dog situation:  I think that Austen will be staying with me indefinitely.  My sister is really attached to him and I think my neighbor wants to give him to her for Christmas.  I'll let you know when I find out.  It's okay with me either way, but he does need some additional training if he is to stay here.  Also, he needs to go to the vet for some Prozac to deal with his separation anxiety!

Christmas is upon us, but let's not forget our treasured pets or the unloved animals out in the world.  If everyone would do something good for just one stray, the world would be a much nicer place.  For my part, I am feeding two beautiful feral black kittens who seem to be living on my front porch.  Hopefully, in the near future I will be able to capture them and get them neutered and get their shots--then I will let them return back to my porch.