The project is run through the Arizona Humane Society (AHS), and was started in part thanks to a $50,000 donation from PetSmart Charities. They just wanted to make sure than families with dogs called into work for the military can rest easy knowing that their dog is well cared for, and has a safe place to be.

The program operates free of charge for enlisted service men and women. AHS found a foster family for Layla, the Locke family’s four-year-old pit bull. She was taken in by Larry and Janet LeBlanc from Surprise, Arizona. They fostered her the entire time that her human dad, Master Sergeant Doug Locke was deployed to South Korea.

Larry and Janet took care of Layla as if she was one of their own. It may have been a bit difficult to say good by to the dog they cared for the past 15 months, but they were happy to know that Layla would be going back to her rightful family, and that they were able to give back to a serviceman’s family.

“I think our faces tell [the story],” said Janet in the video. “But we’re not sorry that we did it. Not at all. It’s just a different bond. And you know, we’ll have a bond with them for the rest of our lives now.”

The post Project Active Duty Brings Military Family Back Together With Their Beloved Dog appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

[iframe id=”http://abcnews.go.com/video/embed?id=37634583″]

“When I came home we let her outside and, at first, she didn’t realize I was home,” Foraker told ABC News.  “Then, she did a double-take and came back to me.  That’s when she started crying and whimpering.  She was so excited.”

Buddy became a bit of a “shadow’ for the next two weeks while Foraker was home. She followed her everywhere she went, and seemed to show an energy that was more like her younger years!  Buddy is a senior dog, and she is suffering from hearing loss and arthritis.  However, Foraker and Buddy do get to keep in touch via Skype while she’s not home.

“I hope to see her again next time I’m home during Christmas,” she said. “She will be all right; she’s a fighter.”

The post Elderly Dog Cries When Her Mom Finally Comes Home appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

While the US military does provide for its servicemen and women after they finish serving, veterans sometimes fall through the cracks.  Combat medic Darla Stange is one of them.  She was assured that she and her emotional support dog, Gimli, would be provided with lodging upon their return to Washington, but that wasn’t the case.  Now they’re staying in various unsavory motels, and would love a place to call home.

This plea comes from SPC Stange:

I never thought I’d be here. Basically begging for money to get by. I am almost six years on active duty, and have honorably served my country all around the world. I am less than five months from getting out medically from multiple injuries – four surgeries and PTSD. I was prescribed an emotional support animal to help with the stress I was enduring – Gimli. He saved my life. I was in Germany when they decided to send me back to Washington in July of 2015. Through lack of communication in the Army channels, I was dumped at a new post with my partner in crime and no funding for a house. I have gutted nearly all my savings in renting rooms and hotels for my dog and I to stay, waiting for Army paperwork and funding. I am asking with the utmost humility to help Gimli and me get back on our feet. I am scared thinking how this situation has placed me as a soldier upon exiting the service.

I was really struggling after multiple injuries and surgeries were ending my military career sooner than I wanted. I was struggling with severe depression.  I was headed down a very dark and spiraling path with very little hope for my future. Just when I had all but given up, Gimli came into my life.

The post Veteran and Emotional Support Dog Find Themselves Homeless appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Specialist Brown and his dog Rocky were sweeping a structure when the bomb went off.  They were immediately transported out of the country for treatment.

“I am a member AE crew of the 379 EAES (Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron) who transported Rocky and his handler from Afghanistan to Germany. We were very concerned about all three involved in the blast and we are very glad to see they are doing well,” commented Sherry Sexton on the Facebook post from the 89^th Military Police Brigade.

“We love our job. I had Rocky’s injured handler medicated to rest on the flight, and his alternate ha flee was exhausted, so our aeromedical Evac took turns lovin on Rocky. If he were a cat he would have purred. He got lots of attention. It just hurts our hearts when our working fur babies are injured. They can’t talk to us and tell us what to do for them so we do the medical stuff – but we shower them with hugs and pets.”

The photo of Rocky wearing his purple heart has gone viral, and now the pair are receiving tons of attention from well-wishers.

“They are both very thankful for your thoughts and prayers and are in the process of heading back home,” an additional Facebook post said.  “SPC Brown arrived early this morning to Walter Reed where he was met by his waiting family, and Rocky is expected to return to Fort Hood in the coming weeks. Please remember them, as well as all our Soldiers deployed around the world, during the holiday season.”

The post Injured Soldier & Dog Recover in a Hospital Room Together appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

To see the first story, click here.

After his tours of duty were completed, Howard was brought back to the United States, and was put up for adoption.  He was adopted by former Hoke County Sheriff’s Deputy Deon Fuller.  Things seemed to be going well and Howard seemed to be adjusting to civilian life quite well.

Alex Reimer, a retired veteran with the U.S. Army, was the man responsible for training and serving along side Howard overseas.  The two had formed a very strong bond with one another, and upon retiring, Reimer wanted to have Howard back as a pet, and therapy dog.

At first, Fuller wasn’t having it.  Howard had been adopted fair and square in his opinion, and was refusing to give Howard back to Reimer.  In response, Reimer set up a Facebook page entitled Bring Howard Home (to view it, click here).

Fuller continued to insist that Howard was rightfully his, as he adopted the dog after his retirement from the military.  He straight refused to even entertain the idea of handing Howard over to Reimer.

Yesterday however, Fuller seemed to change his mind and decided that Howard should go back to Reimer. No word on why the change of heart from Fuller happened, but it is suspected that Fuller lost his job over the national attention the case got.

The post UPDATE: Retired Military Dog Reunited with Soldier he Served With appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

“He saved not only my life, but there were weapons in that van that night that could have been turned on us and there could have been an IED in there,” said Reimer.  “There was an IED in that same van two days later which saved some other people’s lives.”

Reimer, a Minnesota native, now lives in Colorado.  He hasn’t seen Howard since his tour of duty closed out in 2013.  He was searching for Howard, and found that he had been made a part of someone else’s family.

Reimer claims that Howard’s new family cares very little for him.  Reimer says that the dog is constantly tethered to a tree in the yard, and shows almost no interaction with him.  He believes that this is now way to be treating a dog that is an American hero.  Reimer also suffers from PTSD, and thinks having Howard will make things easier.

“I dream about the times that me and Howard had together, the rough times and good times,” said Reimer.  “It’s just… Just tough knowing your best friend is out there tied to a tree and not being taken care of to the best their ability.”

Deon Fuller, Howard’s new human dad says that Reimer’s claims are untrue.  Fuller is a Hoke County Sheriff’s Deputy, and says he Loves Howard very much, and gives him only the best of treatment.

“As of right now I’m saying Howard is my dog and he is home with myself and my family,” Fuller said.

The post Sheriff’s Dep and Former Soldier Fight Over Custody of Dog appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Guatemalan soldiers rescuing dog trapped in mudslide.

Photo Credit: Prensa Libre/Mike Castillo

Local authorities said more than 86 homes sustained damages from the landslide. They also classified other areas close by prone to experience a similar disaster. In response to this tragedy, the government sent its military forces to aide with the rescue mission, and it was a group of soldiers who successfully rescued the trapped pet.

While the hero rescuers excavated an area they overheard the cries of a dog. They started digging where the sounds were coming from, and soon enough they found the dog.

In the video you could hear that the soldiers were concerned with the life of the animal. One of the heroes was a bit hesitant, thinking the pet in distress would bite him, but you can hear another soldier reassuring the first that the dog would not turn violent.

“He won’t bite you because you are helping him,” said the rescuer.

Once the soldiers dug an area large enough for the dog’s head to move freely, the pet crawled to freedom.

The canine lost his owners in the landslide, but he found his guardian angels and hero rescuers in the compassionate soldiers.

The post Dog Buried by Mudslide Found Alive 18 Hours Later appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Senators across the country are lobbying for a bill to be passed that would ensure the care of military dogs after their retirement.  Deemed “military equipment,” many are left behind to fend for themselves, but now politicians are pushing for laws that would make it mandatory for them to be brought home, and preferably given to their handlers.

“After all we know about treating debilitating post war conditions, like PTSD and other health afflictions, it makes absolute sense to keep service members joined with their service dogs,” Schumer said. “To know that after all these years, this unresolved issue stands in the way of our veterans and their beloved four-legged friends is unfair and misguided. The federal government has always stood strong with veterans, supporting them and giving veterans the resources to return home and lead productive lives. That’s exactly why Congress should support this cause, because our veterans say it helps; it’s good for them. Here we have a commonsense policy that is good for the animals that give it their all for America – and for the American heroes who love these dogs so dearly.”

Though you may have heard it before it still comes as a shock to think that it’s not uncommon for military dogs to be left behind in the countries where they served, which is a load of crap coming from governments that spend billions of tax dollars on the military budget each year.  Sadly, they don’t spend nearly enough providing for veterans – human and canine – once they complete their service.

Most handlers and other platoon members view their dogs as brethren out on the battlefield, and would love to have the dogs come home with them, but at the very least want them to have a home.

Megan Leavey is one of many veterans who jumped at the chance to have her canine, Rex, come home to her when he was to be retired.  They served together on two very dangerous tours in Iraq, but it took five years for them to be reunited, and they didn’t have much time left.

“Those eight months I had with him, when we got back together, couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said.

Now at least two senators – Ron Wyden of Oregon and Chuck Schumer of New York are hoping to see a change in the treatment of these important veterans.

“Right now the military says presumption is for the owner not to get the dog unless they fight, fight, fight to get it,” Schumer said.

He and Wyden are pushing to get the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015 passed, which would require the Pentagon to arrange and fund the transport of retired military dogs back to the US.

“The bond between these military working dogs and their handlers is unique,” Wyden said in a statement. “By bringing these dogs that have served alongside our men and women in uniform back to the United States, this bill can provide assistance to veterans while supporting the close bond between these dogs and our soldiers returning home.”

The post New Bill Would Retire Military Dogs With Their Handlers appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Layka(Afghanistan)

Layka and her handler Staff Sgt. Julian McDonald were on a Special Ops mission when they found a house wired with explosives. Julian sent Layka into the house, where discovered an insurgent waiting for them. She successfully subdued the terrorist but obtained several injuries. She lost a leg, but McDonald has no doubt that she saved his life.

Seargent Stubby (World War I)

This Boston bull terrier is one of the most famous military dogs in history. Not only is he the most decorated canine in WWI, he also is the only dog to have been promoted to Sergeant through combat. His keen sense of smell detected when deadly mustard gas had been released, and his ears picked up the sound of artillery much quicker that humans. His greatest feat perhaps was when he was single-handedly responsible for capturing a German spy who he subdued by the seat of his pants. He now has a brick dedicated to him in the Walk of Honor.

Toby L024 (Aghanistan)

Toby is a specialized Search Dog who teamed up with Army Specialist Thomas Jackson in Afghanistan during an 11-month tour. Toby led the combat patrol searching for IEDs or Taliban insurgents. He discovered countless explosives, RPG caches and a 250-pound bomb that failed to detonate. During a raid on a Taliban house, Toby went in first, but this time he sat at the door refusing to let anyone enter. The patrol called in a bomb squad, and they learned the entire place had been wired to explode.

Smoky (World War II)

She might have been a small adorable Yorkshire terrier, but no one would have traded her for a more ferocious dog. She flew 12 combat missions, and she guided her handler to duck a fire during an anti-aircraft gunnery. She survived 150 air raids and was instrumental in setting up a base in Luzon. She secured a line of communication thanks to her tiny size, running a telegraph wire from one end of a long pipe to another.

Azza(Afghanistan)

Azza was trained to sniff out IEDs in areas of operation. She saved her handler, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard and his comrades twice in one day thanks to her superior skills, alerting them of two different bombs in in different locations.

Nemo A534 (Vietnam War)

Nemo was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base with his handler Airman Robert Throneburg. While they were on night patrol, the German shepherd alerted Robert about nearby enemies. Together they killed two in combat, but Throneburg was shot twice and Nemo had been shot through his snout which took out his right eye. He still kept Throneburg awake long enough for him to radio in the position of the attackers. He would not leave his side even when help arrived.

Cairo (The War on Terror)

Cairo was brought along on Operation Neptune Spear, which located and killed Osama Bin Laden. He searched the outside of the compound and helped secure the perimeter while armed with all sorts of equipment and tactical support.

Ryky (Afghanistan)

While riding in a vehicle with her handler Army Staff Sergeant James Harrington, the second vehicle hit an IED and Ryky and Harrington sprang into action. Ryky helped secure the ambush spot and cleared space for medical help. She was awarded the K9 Medal for Exceptional Service.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Valdo(Afghanistan)

The purpose of Operation Red Sand was to remove booby traps and explosives from villages in Afghanistan. When an explosion broke out in the middle of 4 soldiers, Valdo caught a brunt of the shrapnel, saving his handler Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Lee. Miraculously everyone survived and Valdo was able to get help. He is now retired with a Purple Heart after 5 surgeries.

The post Military dogs are man’s best hero appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

http://youtu.be/eqrSh6SisrA?list=PLhb0LutsBXdUzOxMKTPqOLTSK77gJDL7U

The post Dogs Welcoming Home their Military Humans appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.