Sabi back from behind enemy lines
The Age
Thursday November 12, 2009
A BRAVE young Aussie warrior was captured in the heat of battle by the Taliban, and spent more than a year as an unusual prisoner of the enemy.But "Sabi", a black Australian labrador, aged around four, is back home now on the Australian base at Tarin Kowt.Sabi was rescued by an American serviceman who suspected she was not an enemy combatant, but a highly-trained hairy bomb sniffing Digger.It's Lassie Come Home, Afghan-style.Sabi's job in Afghanistan has been to work with Australian Special Forces in detecting improvised explosive devices.The plucky canine had been missing in action for more than a year and all hope appeared lost, given that she had disappeared into the desert landscape of Afghanistan's south.She went missing during a battle that led to Australian SAS soldier Trooper Mark Donaldson securing a Victoria Cross for holding out Taliban insurgents.Nine soldiers were wounded during the encounter, and the party got separated from the dog during the fire fight. Sabi's adventure saw her picked up and incarcerated by enemy combatants before her rescue by the US soldier, identified as John.Back on the base yesterday, Sabi appeared composed and relaxed, posing for cameras and meeting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US General Stanley McChrystal.She showed no signs of stress, and welcomed strangers with a sniff and a lick.Speaking from London, Trooper Donaldson welcomed the returned of Sabi. "She's the last piece of the puzzle," the soldier said."Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It's a fantastic morale booster for the guys."Woof to that.
© 2009 The Age
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