One U.S. Army soldier is on a mission to save his dog and bring him
home to Florida
By
July 31, 2018
Border collie Australian shepherd dog canine pet lying on tan veteran
military combat work construction boots looking sad grief stricken in mourning
depressed abandoned alone emotional bereaved worried feeling heartbreak
New York, NY – While U.S. Army missions may be the stuff of top secret
details, there is no hiding what is going on with the mission that one solder
is on. Protecting his identity so that his security is not compromised, David
is a U.S. Army soldier stationed in the Middle East who is on a mission to save
a dog he befriended while being deployed. Not wanting to leave the dog behind
after he leaves the Middle East, he reached out to Paws of War to see if they
can help bring Rukban back to Florida with him. It’s a mission that Paws of War
has helped numerous other soldiers with and that they have agreed to take on
once again.
“Bringing a dog back from another part of the world like this is a true
mission,” says Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. “There is a lot that
is involved in doing it, including the paperwork, travel and medical expenses,
and more. It’s a mission that we cannot succeed at without the assistance of
people in the community who want to help support those who help defend the
country.”
While it may seem like a true mission impossible to bring a dog back
from the Middle East, Paws of War is well experienced at helping soldiers
successfully pull it off. Being left in the Middle East when David’s unit is
sent home would most likely be a death sentence. It’s an area of the world that
sees dogs as pests and doesn’t treat them kindly as a result. When David found
the dog he named Rukban, he was hungry, thirsty, and injured. He had a fresh
neck wound and someone had previously cut his ears off, a common abuse toward
dogs in that area.
Immediately going into action, David gave the dog food, water, and got
it medical attention. He created a strong bond with Rukban as he nursed him
back to health. Military protocol does not allow for soldiers to bring dogs
back home with them, so David reached out to Paws of War for assistance.
“Rukban has been such a blessing to me while being in the Middle East,”
says David. “I can’t imagine leaving him behind and what would become of him.
Being able to bring him home to Florida with me would be amazing. I’m grateful
that an organization like Paws of War exists to help with this mission, and I’m
humbled that so many citizens give them the support they need to make it
happen.”
