Military

When an Australian soldier was told he would soon be deployed to Iraq, he had to make one tough decision, to surrender his dog named Prinny. The 12-year-old dog found a new loving home, but the rescue organization that helped the pet had no way to contact the soldier and let him know his pet was okay. The organization wrote an open letter hoping to reach the soldier, and thanks to it, Prinny’s previews owner learned of the dog’s newfound fortune.

Happy Veterans Day to all you vets out there!  While on active duty, having a pet can be one of the only things that helps bring stability and comfort during times of extreme stress, and the pets left behind at home can be one of the greatest things to look forward to.  In honor of those who have served, here are some of the best photos of solders and dogs – and even a couple kitties.

When eight-year-old Rachel Mennet from Summerville, S.C., heard that Iraq War veteran Nick Bailey and his dog Abel needed help raising funds to send the German shepherd to service dog training school, the little girl decided to help. This inspiring young child set up a lemonade stand in a pet shop to help Bailey raise the $6,000 he needed to pay for Abel’s training.

NPR war correspondent Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reflects on her dog turning 100 – in dog years, of course – and how rescue dogs are really the ones who do the rescuing.