Canadian soldiers help canine refugees

Photos

Dogs of War

see larger image

uploaded by Barry ORegan

Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan found relief from the horrors of war in the form of puppies destined to a life of misery.

"It may be against regs, but sometimes you can’t help falling for a furry face. For Canadian soldiers who bond with Afghan strays, there’s help from volunteers to get their mutts home."

Canadian soldiers have an ally in a retired British military soldier who himself found the trials and tribulations of bringing home man's best friend home after his tour of duty ended. Penn Farthing soon founded www.nowzaddogs.co.uk an organization which helps facilitate bringing soldiers dogs and cats home.

Dogs for the most part are not part of a Afghani family under Muslim dictates. Dogs are believed to be unclean, hence the many strays in this war torn country are left to fend for themselves or shot on sight as distemper and rabies being a primary concern.

Smuggling dogs out of Afghanistan is a monumental task in itself costing upwards of thousands of dollars per animal, besides the logistics of customs, animal health regulations, quarantine etc by most western countries.

It is not known how many of man's best friends have saved soldiers lives as watchdogs, but it is a fact many an abandoned pet has saved the sanity of soldiers looking for unconditional love and companionship in the form of wagging tongues and tails greeting soldiers after coming back from whatever harrowing ordeal they came from outside their compound.

Perhaps the "Dogs of War" now has a kinder gentler side.