Target, Sasha and Rufus

Sometimes we read a story on the internet and we feel very sad and the tail droops down to let mum and dad know how we are feeling. Today is a very sad, tail droopy day. We learned about a three very special dogs called Target, Sasha and Rufus.

Target

Target is a very heroic, bomb-sniffing stray dog that saved several human lives in war-torn Afghanistan, Target was brought back to the U.S. by Sgt. Terry Young. Target appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" for her heroics in Afghanistan. Target and two other stray dogs, Sasha and Rufus, were adopted by U.S. troops in Afghanistan after wandering into a military compound there. The three dogs were hailed as heroes after attacking a suicide bomber who entered the compound, apparently headed toward barracks with some 50 soldiers inside.

Rufus

Sasha was badly injured when the bomber detonated an explosive device and did not recover. But Target and Rufus survived and were brought home with soldiers returning from their tour of duty in Afghanistan. Sgt. Chris Duke has Rufus at his home in Georgia, where the dog lives with the soldier and his family. 

At a time when Target should have been enjoying the company of his friends and family. Target was picked up wandering the streets and she did not have a microchip or tag. Sadly she was taken to an animal shelter, and mistakenly put to sleep.  All that is left now is a memory of a very brave dog. 

Can we all learn a lesson here. If we are your best friends, please ensure that we have a chip, a collar tag and where possible, our chip number on a tattoo inside our ears.

So today we salute, Rufus, Sasha and Target who was one very brave and very special lady.

Yip Yap

Poppy and Abbey.