Will Sarbi Be Home For Christmas?

[BCPuppy]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Sarbi the EDD dog that was lost for 14 months in Afghanistan will be home soon? last I read she was in quarantine in Dubai, must be nearly 6 months now.

[labsrule]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Sarbi the EDD dog that was lost for 14 months in Afghanistan will be home soon? last I read she was in quarantine in Dubai, must be nearly 6 months now.

Apparently she will be home in December according to this latest article in the Sydney Daily Tele today about the family who gave her up to the Army now trying to lay claim to her ;)

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/give...9-1225957925135

A TUG of love has broken out between the army and the original owners of Sarbi, the hero bomb detection dog.

Sarbi went missing in action in Afghanistan after a major battle in Septem- ber 2008.

Fourteen months later - after being adopted by the Taliban - Sarbi amazed her handler after finding her way back to the Australian base at Taren Kowt.

Now original owner Wendy Upjohn, who gave Sarbi and her brother Rafiki to the army when her family moved from the country to the city, has written to the Defence Minister requesting the return of the dog after her military service is over.

But the army told Ms Upjohn that the policy is for the dog's handler to have first refusal on a retired dog.

The army first approached the Upjohns about the two-year-old dogs when the family was seeking a home for them 2004.

Ms Upjohn said that when a soldier came to collect the dogs, he told the family they would be able to claim them back when their service was finished.

"Unfortunately there was nothing in writing," she said. "We just wanted her back as a family pet."

The army denied that any such undertaking was given and said the dog would remain with her handler and his family once she retires.

Sarbi and the sergeant who trained her, and was then deployed to Afghanistan as her handler, were partners for several years before the dog disappeared in an ambush.

She has been in quarantine in Dubai for the past six months and will return to Australia in December.

Once she receives a clean bill of health, Sarbi will return to work with the army in January. She could remain on duty for another 2-3 years.

"Then she will be given to her handler Sergeant D and his family," a source said.

It is understood the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie is adamant that Sarbi is army property.

George Hulse from the War Dogs Association agreed and said that it was entirely appropriate for Sarbi's handler to have her.

"He has developed a very close bond with the dog and he never gave up hope that she would turn up in Afghanistan," Mr Hulse said.

"To suggest that he should part with the dog would be just devastating."

[BCPuppy]

Thanks for the reply labsrule. I hope that this does not turn into a battle for ownership. One would have to question why 6 years after surrendering the dog they would want her back . imo I agree it is appropriate for her handler to keep her.