Iraqi Dog Walks 70 Miles Through War Zone to Join His American Soldier
Thanks to Regina Frau for barking in this true tearjerker of a story from ABCActionNews.com.
Dog walks 70 miles through war zone to find his master
Last Update: 2/12
IRAQ — Their friendship began half way across the world in Iraq, when St. Petersburg native Major Brian Dennis encountered a mixed breed dog in Anbar Province. The dog had been savagely abused and his ears cut off.
The marine decided to call him Nubbs.
In e-mails to his mother, Marsha Cargo in Tierra Verde, Major Dennis wrote how he was “dumbfounded” when he learned Nubbs’ ears were cut off purposely by an Iraqi to make him tough and more alert. Nubbs, he said, was ordained a fighting dog.Four months passed, and the bond between man and his four legged friend grew. Nubbs, was dealt severe blows in his short life, including being stabbed by a screwdriver. The major shared his distress with mother.
“He tried sleeping with him that night because it was 18 degree temperature and he was afraid he was not going to live through the night. So out of his back pack, he took Neosporin and covered the wound,” Cargo said.
Major Dennis nursed Nubbs back to health…and here is where this friendship takes a remarkable turn: Major Dennis was ordered to move his squadron 70 miles away. He complied.
His mother shared her son’s surprise of a lifetime, “Two days later he was out there working on a vehicle in the front yard and all of a sudden here comes Nubbs. He had tracked Brian 70 miles across the desert in 18 degree temperature while being wounded.”
Despite strict rules, Major Dennis wrote to his mother, he had to help this dog. “I won’t even address the gauntlet. He had to run off a pack of dogs, wolves and god knows what else to get here…when he arrived he looked like he had been through a war zone,” Dennis wrote.
Weeks went by, and Nubbs was dealt another blow,
“Someone told on them that they had the dog and they had 4 days to get rid of him or Nubbs was going to be shot,” Cargo said.
That’s when the Marine made it his mission to get Nubbs to safety. He wrote, “Nubbs was going to America, this dog had been through a lifetime of fighting war, abuse, and had tracked our team over 70 miles of harsh desert (and) was going to live the good life.”
The major started an e-mail campaign that crisscrossed continents. Within two days there was three thousand dollars to bring Nubbs home.
“The hardest part was getting him across the Jordanian border,” Cargo told us.
But, in keeping with the rest of this story, the duo defied the odds. Major Dennis was able to get Nubbs into Jordan. A family here in The U.S. will take care of him there until these friends can be reunited.
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What an amazing story! Does anyone know how to get in touch with Nubbs? I would love to welcome him to the States with a toy or two.
A wonderful story!
Such a great story!!! One with a happy ending. Major Dennis and Nubbs have certainly developed a strong bond. Reminds me of a poem written about war dogs…
http://www.eagleid.com/veterans/poem.htm
is that a wonderful story! Warms my heart!
Beautiful story. I’m so happy that Nubbs will have a new home, in a safe and caring environment. Can you imagine if everyone was so thoughtful and caring as this young man?
What a wonderful story!
What a touching story. patti
wow. That was an excellent story. It is so touching, and an amazing thing this guy had to do for Nubbs. That must have taken alot for Nubbs to find Dennis, obviously something was said just there.
*Huggles* hope you all live safely, and remember to know that our dogs aren’t just toys, but they are like us.
I Love these kinds of stories!! Brian you are a TRUE hero!!! When you care for the least among you , you are following a rightous path!!
I Love these kinds of stories!! Brian you are a TRUE hero!!! When you care for the least among you , you are following a righteous path!!
Thats an awesome story…We also have a dog that was rescued from Iraq…although he was born in a wild dog pack and was rescued as a puppy so he didn’t see as many hardships as Nubbs did…It’s good to hear that another one was saved though….
That story is just amazing! The poor doggie and now everything is going to be okay and that marine just showed that he was amazing and OMD! just how horrible this dogs life was and how much the marine loved him its just amazing
What a heartwarming story. It is hard to imagine the hardships on pets impacted by war. We don’t see it very often, but all of us know that as long as there are pets around the world, that they too are victims. I think of how terrified Abby would be if we lived in a war zone, and I realize how frightened and alone this poor animals must be. Thank goodness there are soldiers determined enough to break the rules to save them.
What a wonderful Act of love and kindness for dogs. I have read so many stories of soldiers trying to get pets home and they are having such a hard time. There needs to be any easier way for them to get these pets out of the war zones. The Department of Defense needs to learn that the shot to kill these strays is JUST WRONG!!! Somebody needs to help get this changed. What is wrong with our government……These are living things…are they just that in humane…God help them.