This isn’t my story but I thought it was really interested and wanted to share. It also mentioned our pal- Gabe the Hero Dog ! Canine Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) is a very real challenge we are facing with our four legged service members.

The dogs of war: saving lives but paying the price
Story by L.A. Shively

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Can courage be measured in a canine heart? Can a dog actually be a hero?

Take Gabe for instance, a yellow Labrador Retriever who has three Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal for finding explosives in Iraq. Actually, Gabe’s awards are not for finding weapons, ammunition, or bombs; but for saving lives.

How about Cairo, the Belgian Malinois that accompanied SEAL Team Six to Pakistan on the mission to kill Osama bin Laden? Cairo and the Navy SEALs were … Read More »

This is Part III of this series. You might wish to read Part I (Gabe beats euthanization and becomes a MWD) or Part II (Gabe travels to Iraq and prepares to jump into action for the U.S. Army) before you read this post.

“Seeek!”

Gabe was on his feet at the “s” and bolting forward by the time Chuck got to the “k.” His nose stayed low and his tail was sweeping from side to side on rapid fire. He was Specialized Search Dog Gabe and he knew something didn’t quite smell right around this Iraqi farmhouse.

Though he had been chomping at the bit ever since they jumped out of the HUMVEE at the farmhouse, he stayed right beside Chuck as the home was searched. The soldiers couldn’t find anything, but Gabe was sniffing rapidly. He sensed something … Read More »

This is Part II of this series. You might wish to read Part I before you read this post.

“It is time to euthanize the yellow lab. Hand me that needle,” said the man with the shoulder length dark hair tied back in a ponytail. The man’s nose was square and seemed to be almost twice the size it should be for his smiling face. Gabe did not like people in white coats and he began emit a slight growl.

“No, you can’t kill me. I’m a dog,” cried out Gabe.

“This is going to be fun,” said the big-nosed man as he squeezed the needle and Gabe watched fluid roll off of the tip and splatter to the ground.

His metal kennel began to shake when Gabe shook. “Get your hands off my cage. You are in for a … Read More »

“That yellow lab over there has thirty days. If he isn’t adopted he will have to be euthanized.”

Labrador retriever Gabe pawed at the chain-linked fence with his tattered yellow paws. He looked up at the man who was standing over him and bellowed a thunderous series of defiant barks.

“Kill me? Are you crazy man? Just let me back outside to run the streets,” thought Gabe. “I wasn’t hurting anyone out there.”

He looked around at the other dogs locked up like he was and sighed. He was in the “big dog house” like a common criminal. They had taken his freedom and now they wanted to take his life?

He cried out in pain and plopped himself down on the hard concrete floor. His low weight and dirty body didn’t hurt. His heart did. At first he didn’t … Read More »