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The Awesome Reason This Veteran is Venturing into War Zones in Search of Dogs

Credit: Fox News
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By Faithwire Staff
Editor

January 24, 2017

Like all recovery operations in hostile territory, this one was costly and dangerous.

But the American that required a special operations soldier to enter the war zone in full body armor was furrier and weighed significantly less than the average soldier, because he was actually a 45-pound white Canaan dog named Ghost.

Credit: Fox News
Credit: Fox News

The special ops soldier, who declined to give his name due to security reasons, conducts similar missions all over the world to reunite pets acquired on overseas bases with their owners back home in the States.

“It’s the best feeling to reunite these pets with their soldiers,” he said. “I was wounded in Iraq, myself, and I owe my life to my dog. There is a bond there that could never be broken.”

Sunny is all rested up after her long journey from the Middle East and is ready for her new forever home in the US!
Together We Save Them! pic.twitter.com/69mY0pv3eF

— Guardians of Rescue (@GORSavesThem) January 11, 2017

Pets are not considered military property for American soldiers serving abroad and are often left to die in the war zones where they met their owners and handers. With the help of a New York-based rescue group, this special ops soldier has made it his duty to fly into war-torn countries in the Middle East to retrieve the dogs and bring them back to the U.S.

“The animals are not classified as military property, therefore they’re not authorized on the packing list,” the soldier said. “You take home with you what you bring.”

The 14-year veteran has carried out 20 missions and returned dozens of pets to their owners, including a fluffy orange cat named Majnoon and a dark-colored puppy found in the desert after his mother had been shot to death.

Credit: Fox News
Credit: Fox News

“There’s a risk of kidnapping – there’s a risk of everything over there. You don’t know who’s your friend and who isn’t,” said the soldier. “…I had a gun held to my head while I was trying to get a dog.”

Each mission costs between $3,000 and $4,000 and is fully funded by Guardians of Rescue, which has been providing the finances necessary for the retrievals in hostile countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yeman.

Welcome Home Ghost! Ghost was greeted with much love and welcoming excitement by his soldier's family when his paws touched the ground of his new home. Long gone are the days of surviving on the dangerous streets of the Middle East – this former stray is now settling in with his family, where he will enjoy every moment knowing he is safe and loved, while he awaits the day when they will all be reunited with the soldier who saved him. Together We Do Save Them, locally and globally. guardiansofrescue.org/mid-east-rescue/ #rescues #Militarydogs

A photo posted by Guardians Of Rescue (@guardiansofrescue) on Nov 3, 2016 at 12:03pm PDT

Ghost and his entire litter were poisoned as a part of a “vector control” program, in which local contractors at the bases near in the region trap and exterminate the animals, including packs of feral dogs.

The 1-year-old pup survived, and he was brought stateside to live in the Northeast.

“I think he realizes he’s lucky,” he said of Ghost, describing him as a quintessential puppy who loves to play. “He has an undying love for his soldier.”

We hope that you will tune in to @animalplanet for Episode 3 of #theguardians this Saturday at 10pm EST. A case involving a homeless Navy veteran and his dogs hits home this week. #theguardians #animalplanet #navy #petsofinstagram #petshelpingvets #guardiansofrescue #instagood #picoftheday #military #veteran

A photo posted by Guardians Of Rescue (@guardiansofrescue) on Jan 18, 2017 at 4:24pm PST

Before leaving for the U.S., pets must receive medical clearance. The goal for each mission is to bring four pets back.

Help the helpless. Rehab the broken. Foster the homeless. Keep families together. Show your support today: https://t.co/CJd83ItGTt

— Guardians of Rescue (@GORSavesThem) January 26, 2016

“When you know you can help an animal stay alive and also prevent a service member from experiencing guilt for having left a pet behind — it’s very rewarding,” said Robert Misseri, who runs Guardians of Rescue, the subject of a weekly show on “Animal Planet.”

—

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