Iraqi Dog's Miracle Trek Reaches U.S. Soil

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

"Touchdown" was the first celebratory word in an e-mail Marsha Cargo received from her son Maj. Brian Dennis, after a dog who survived a 70-mile Hail Mary trek through war-torn Iraqi deserts touched down safely in Chicago Wednesday evening.

"We're thrilled," Cargo told ABC News after the dog named Nubs arrived in the United States to a warm reception. "What would the alternative be? We thought this dog was going to be shot."

Waiting for the animal, which Dennis and his unit befriended during months of patrolling Iraqi forts along the border of Iraq and Syria, were a steak dinner and strawberry Pop-Tarts — the latter a treat that had become a favorite of the dog during visits by the Marine unit.

Nubs, a wiry German-shepherd-border-collie mix named for nubby ears that were sliced off as a puppy, will stay in Chicago with the family of one of his Marine colleagues until a final hop to San Diego, where a Marine fighter pilot stationed at Camp Pendleton has been given permission to care for the dog until Dennis arrives home from his second combat tour.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/AmazingAnimals/story?id=4323637&page=1

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A long and happy life I wish for you Nubs and may your Marine buddy Brian Davis make it safely home to you! To paraphrase a saying "you both are sure to go to heaven because you've already spent your time in hell".

[roguevalley]

1. lovely. there's another thread nearby with people complaining

about these 'distraction' stories. personally, I am glad for this. one less dead soul in Iraq and imagine this dog's thoughts as it went after the only people to love it. this dog by his loyalty and bravery made everyone who knows him automatically better. this is a great story and I'm glad this little soul is saved.

In an earlier story this dog was the leader of a ferral pack. what a good thing this is. I love dogs.

[Minimus]

2. thanks for posting this!

[izquierdista]

3. How heartwarming!

Now, how about a few million Iraqi children that have it worse than Nubs?

[RamboLiberal]

5. Well here's one

Scott Southworth and his son Ala'a do the same thing every weekday evening. They come, fix supper, say grace, and then eat while watching Wheel of Fortune. It's not Leave it to Beaver, but it works for this family.

Nobody could have predicted this life for Ala'a. The 13-year-old escaped a cruel fate when he met an American soldier stationed in Baghdad. The two became friends in 2003 when Scott and his fellow soldiers visited the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad during Scott's deployment.

Their friendship probably would have remained just that, a friendship, had Scott not received a warning. He was told Ala'a would likely be removed from the orphanage when he got too old for the nuns to care for.

"When I found out they were going to move him to a government facility where best case scenario he'd stare at a blank wall for the rest of his life, and worst case scenario was -- he just died," recalled Scott. "I said well than I'll adopt him. I'll adopt him."

http://wcco.com/local/soldier.adoption.Wisconsin.2.616112.html

Undaunted, Southworth and the attorney started the paperwork to bring Ala'a over on humanitarian parole, used for urgent reasons or significant public benefit.

A local doctor, a cerebral palsy expert, a Minneapolis hospital, all said they would provide Ala'a free care. Other letters of support came from a minister, the school district, the lieutenant governor, a congressman, chaplain, a sister at the orphanage and an Iraqi doctor.

"We crossed political boundaries. We crossed religious boundaries. There was just a massive effort — all on behalf of this little boy who desperately needed people to actually take some action and not just feel sorry for him," Southworth said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22380025/page/2/

Just as important, Iraqi law prohibits foreigners from adopting Iraqi children.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/344721_savingala25.html


Scott is on a new mission. He is determined to get those orphaned boys out of Iraq.

We don't like the war, but there are a lot of American soldiers there who have big hearts for the kids and the dogs.

[cornermouse]

4. He looks like a sweetie.

And to follow and find him 70 miles away from where he was befriended says a lot about his spirit. I'm glad he wasn't abandoned in Iraq.

[MISSDem]

6. It is so good to read stories of our soldiers showing their

humanity rather than their "other side". This one made me cry. After reading of killing/raping, etc. this is good, very good.

[caligirl]

7. He must feel so safe there, look how relaxed he looks.

[ChazII]

8. Great story thanks

forsharing. K&R because we need a few happier threads.

[pecwae]

9. I love this story.

((Nubs))

[vankuria]

10. Great Story!

Thanks so much for posting. As a dog lover this story really warmed my heart. Nub's looks like he settled right in!

[StarryNite]

11. I love dogs

and happy endings. :loveya:

[HuffleClaw]

12. there is something really fucking wrong when the public will pay more attention to a DOG

than to those serving over there

[cornermouse]

13. Interesting comment.

Are you stating that we are expected to pay homage to the military no matter what the subject is actually about?

[bklyncowgirl]

14. These soldiers moved heaven and earth (not ot mention bureaucracy) to save their pets

That speaks volumes about the kind of people they are. This is about people retaining their humanity against the backdrop of the horror of war. I don't understand your comment.

[zanne]

15. He's beautiful!

You can't look at that face and not fall in love with him. I'm so happy for him and his soldier buddy.

[xchrom]

16. ....

:applause: :woohoo: :applause: yay nubs!!! -- we all love you!

[bluevoter4life]

17. You beat me to the punch

I was going to post this one myself, but ya got me. Seriously, this is such a heartwarming story. Finally something good coming out of this mess, and this isn't the first time something like this has happened. There have been several stories in recent months and years over dogs getting attached to a soldier or brigade. Congratulations Maj. Dennis for finding companionship in the most unlikely of places. We love you Nubs.