Good news comes on four legs.
Amid all the gloomy news from Afghanistan (and thefingers-on-chalkboard strategy debate), here’s a cheerful headline: AnAustralian Special Forces explosives-sniffing dog has been found alivein Afghanistan — more than a year after she went MIA in firefight.
According to a news releasefrom the Australian military, Sabi, a Black Labrador, was found by aU.S. soldier at an isolated outpost in Oruzgan Province. Sabi had gonemissing after a 2008 firefight in which nine Australian soldiers werewounded, including the dog’s handler. Trooper Mark Donaldson, a member of the Australian Special Air Service regiment, won a Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle.
It’s not clear from the news release who was taking care of Sabi,but it’s a fair guess that there are some dog-lovers in OruzganProvince.
The U.S. soldier, identified only as John, happened upon Sabi inthe company of a local man. He knew that the Australians were missingan explosives-sniffing dog. “I took the dog and gave it some commandsit understood,” John said.
Sabi was returned to the Australian base at Tirin Kowt. The lucky bitch even got to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his surprise Remembrance Day visit to Afghanistan.
The pooch will now be quarantined while the veterinarians assesswhether or not she can return home. Fingers crossed for a clean bill ofhealth, Sabi.