'Rex is my partner, I love him': The marine blown up with her dog in Afghanistan . . .

Daily Mail UK ^ | March 10, 2012 | Laura Pullman

[khelus]

A woman who served in Iraq for more than three years is now fighting to adopt the German Shepherd who she survived a roadside bomb with.

As a dog handler for the military, Megan Leavey, 28, completed over 100 missions during two six-month tours in Iraq with the military service dog Rex.

And since being discharged from the military in December 2007 Leavey has campaigned to adopt the bomb-sniffing canine so he can enjoy a civilian life with her in Rockport, New York. ...

Recovered from his war injuries, the military considered Rex a valuable work dog and denied Leavey's early requests for adoption.

However, the German Shepherd, the oldest active service dog at Camp Pendleton, was recently diagnosed with facial palsy, a nerve paralysis which has left him unable to serve.

'As a safety precaution, they don't give all dogs away,' Leavey said. 'The dilemma with me is the minute they say he can't be adopted, because he's sick and because he can't work, they'd have to put him to sleep. . . .

[khelus]

Leavey has kept up tabs on Rex was recently informed of Rex's medical condition by his care takers at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

She has reached out to local veterans organizations and even contacted New York Senator Charles E. Schumer to help fight her cause.

You may remember Rex fom the book "Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog." by Marine Cpl. Mike Dowling, another handler, who has endorsed Leavey's adoption efforts.



More on the story here.

[khelus]

doggy ping

[Nifster]

I hope the bureaucrats see their way clear to do the right thing here

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[trailhkr1]

She can adopt me and take me in and rub my belly anytime she wants.

[SuzyQue]

Anything we can do to help?

[khelus]

I hope the bureaucrats see their way clear to do the right thing here

The story has gotten a lot of publicity in the NYC area. Here's hoping it works.

[usconservative]

Fer cryin' out loud, they should let her adopt the dog and let him live the rest of his life in peace. That was her dog in Afghanistan, she knows how to handle him.

For heaven's sake, I just can't imagine putting an animal that's served our country so bravely to sleep over this. It just doesn't seem .......... "right."

[rabidralph]

Awww. I hope she can get him.

[khelus]

Anything we can do to help?

Options would include contacting a local veteran's group to get them involved, contacting Michael B. Donley, secretary of the Air Force, which oversees the training of military service dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, and even (as distasteful as it might be, contacting the office of senator schumer from NY.

I'm severely bank width challenged today, and haven't yet located more specifics re contacts.

[trisham]

I hope so too. They look very happy together.

[SuzyQue]

Let me know, please.

[Oldexpat]

I’ll write to my Congress critters here in San Diego...today.
I think all these military dogs deserve to be placed in adoptive homes when they are completed their services. There are plenty of people who will care for them in their old age.

[khelus]

Fer cryin' out loud, they should let her adopt the dog and let him live the rest of his life in peace. That was her dog in Afghanistan, she knows how to handle him.

For heaven's sake, I just can't imagine putting an animal that's served our country so bravely to sleep over this. It just doesn't seem .......... "right."

not only that but according to the story at MSNBC:

"Rex is my partner; I love him," said Leavey, 28, who lives with her father in Rockport, New York, and works as a dog handler. "We have been through so much together … I’ve spent day and night with this dog. It’s a very strong bond."

[rabidralph]

I’m surprised that there isn’t an organization that takes military dogs out of the pipeline and readies them for adoption by former handlers or other civilians. A couple years ago, a wounded dog was scheduled for retirement without repatriation to the US and people made a stink about it. The dog was brought back at a cost of about $20,000 or so to taxpayers. So it seems that it’s very expensive to get a dog out of the war zone and back to the states.

[khelus]

FYI bank width = band width

Here's a start:

You can get contact info for your congress critter, or Sen. Charles [Chuck]Schumer, N.Y at:
Project Vote Smart
Click Government and Officials
==> Offices and Officials ==> etc.

[Hot Tabasco]

Just give her the dog and say it got out and ran away.

A shepherd at 10 years of age doesn't have much comfort time left.....

[khelus]

They just look perfect together.

[khelus]

I’ll write to my Congress critters here in San Diego...today.
I think all these military dogs deserve to be placed in adoptive homes when they are completed their services. There are plenty of people who will care for them in their old age.

Good for you, and I agree.

[khelus]

There is a link to contact the DOD [dept of defense] at the bottom of :

http://www.defense.gov/