Iraqi Dog Walks 70 Miles Through War Zone to Join His American Soldier

Dog walks 70 miles through war zone to find his master

Last Update: 2/12

IRAQ — Their friendship began half way across the world in Iraq, when St. Petersburg native Major Brian Dennis encountered a mixed breed dog in Anbar Province. The dog had been savagely abused and his ears cut off.

The marine decided to call him Nubbs.

In e-mails to his mother, Marsha Cargo in Tierra Verde, Major Dennis wrote how he was “dumbfounded” when he learned Nubbs’ ears were cut off purposely by an Iraqi to make him tough and more alert. Nubbs, he said, was ordained a fighting dog.

Four months passed, and the bond between man and his four legged friend grew. Nubbs, was dealt severe blows in his short life, including being stabbed by a screwdriver. The major shared his distress with mother.

“He tried sleeping with him that night because it was 18 degree temperature and he was afraid he was not going to live through the night. So out of his back pack, he took Neosporin and covered the wound,” Cargo said.

Major Dennis nursed Nubbs back to health…and here is where this friendship takes a remarkable turn: Major Dennis was ordered to move his squadron 70 miles away. He complied.

His mother shared her son’s surprise of a lifetime, “Two days later he was out there working on a vehicle in the front yard and all of a sudden here comes Nubbs. He had tracked Brian 70 miles across the desert in 18 degree temperature while being wounded.”

Despite strict rules, Major Dennis wrote to his mother, he had to help this dog. “I won’t even address the gauntlet. He had to run off a pack of dogs, wolves and god knows what else to get here…when he arrived he looked like he had been through a war zone,” Dennis wrote.

Weeks went by, and Nubbs was dealt another blow,

“Someone told on them that they had the dog and they had 4 days to get rid of him or Nubbs was going to be shot,” Cargo said.

That’s when the Marine made it his mission to get Nubbs to safety. He wrote, “Nubbs was going to America, this dog had been through a lifetime of fighting war, abuse, and had tracked our team over 70 miles of harsh desert (and) was going to live the good life.”

The major started an e-mail campaign that crisscrossed continents. Within two days there was three thousand dollars to bring Nubbs home.

“The hardest part was getting him across the Jordanian border,” Cargo told us.

But, in keeping with the rest of this story, the duo defied the odds. Major Dennis was able to get Nubbs into Jordan. A family here in The U.S. will take care of him there until these friends can be reunited.

American Kennel Club Backs Out of Petland Deal!

Here’s an update about the amazingly ill-conceived AKC deal with the Petland chain of pet stores. It seems the AKC management have heard all the complaints from across the US from many breed clubs and backed away from the arrangement.

Way to go Dogsters and everyone else who growled their upset into the AKC! You made the difference! You’re the reason puppy mills and their middle demons like the Hunte Corporation will not be legitimized any more than they already are in pet stores like Petland. Good work! Keep up the good work! Working like a pack we can make a difference!

Thanks to Roxie’s mom, Karen for barking in!

Karen wrote:

Hi Joy,
I’m not sure if you have seen this but it looks like AKC has pulled back and is not going through with the Petland agreement. Once again the voices of reason have been heard.

At the September Delegates Meeting AKC reported that we had reached an agreement with Petland in order to facilitate the registration of dogs that are already AKC registrable.

Precedence: bulk

AKC’s Board of Directors and management believed that this agreement would have helped to further the mission of the AKC. Promoting responsible dog ownership to new puppy owners, implementing our care and conditions policies, and exposing more dog owners to AKC educational programs and services would have had even greater reach.

In the past few weeks we have received many comments about this agreement, both positive and negative. We have listened to the concerns and because this issue has become so divisive, we believe it is in the best interest of our sport and the American Kennel Club not to go forward with this initiative.

Ron Menaker, Chairman of the Board
Dennis B. Sprung, President and CEO

Protestors Picket Petland About Over Alleged Puppy Mills

SAN ANTONIO -- A small group of protestors picketed a Petland store on Sunday, asking people considering a new pet to think of all their options before their purchase.Concerned Citizens Against Puppy Mills picketed the store in the Vineyard shopping center at Loop 1604 and Blanco Road.They urged shoppers to consider adoption when choosing a new pet rather than purchasing a pet from retailers they said are supplied with animals from “puppy mills.”A “puppy mill” is a breeding kennel that may be harmful to its animal occupants, according to the Humane Society.“In my case, I bought a puppy, and within one day, I found out he was infected with (parvovirus),” protestor Holly Pridmore said. “When I did my research, I found out that my puppy came from a puppy mill and puppy mills are mass breeding facilities that are located all over the United States.”Canine parvovirus – commonly abbreviated as CPV – is an infectious disease passed between contact with infected dogs and attacks the intestinal tract, according to the American Animal Hospital Associaition.Pridmore said people searching for pets should consider other services, such as the city of San Antonio’s Animal Care Services.

Mary of Mentor OH (02/12/08)

I purchased a Westie from this Mentor Store. Since the first day I brought her home she had diarrhea and blood in it. She did this many times a day. I told their vet that since the first visit that she had this going on. He brushed it off and said he didn't see it in the stool sample. But he gave me medicine to harden up her stool. Some antibiotic. Well 2 visits later and many bloody stools of diarrhea, I went back to the vet. He said that this may be a condition she may have for her lifetime. After she got spayed, by the third visit she still had bloody diarrhea. I called concerned about her swelling after her surgery. The vet was very bothered by me coming back. Of course I had to bring 3 stool samples of bloody diarrhea so he could take his pick at which one to look at. He called me in and wanted me to assist to find the bloody poop. I was shocked. Isn't this his job to do that?

Anyway he asked, "Haven't you ever had a puppy?" Like I should be used to seeing this bloody diarrhea. Well after calling Bob the owner and voicing my concerns to pay for the vet bills, he offered to pay. After falling on the ice from cleaning out the cage and cleaning up about 4 messes in 1 day, I had enough! So I showed up at the shop on a Sunday during a busy time. I took pictures of the dog with a bloody diarrhea, poopy cage. And I went to the local CVS to get big prints made. I walked into the store with our sick puppy, all her food and items and the meds she was on. I flashed the pictures to the lady at the desk. She yelled at me and told me to put them away. Then she had another lady to talk with me. The look of shock from the pictures of the poop said it all.

To make a long story short I said I couldn't clean up 1 more mess and that my back was hurting. So I turned over the dog. They demanded papers on the dog. Well after an hour went by, I marched back up and demanded the papers on the dog back. And I said I wanted our puppy back. Well the worker called Bob. Of course they tried to get me to talk quietly in the office. Well after realizing that I walked out of the office. I was getting an attitude from the owner. So I told him I want a full refund, or I'm going to the news and newspapers. He said if I did that he wouldn't work with me, and that I was being out of control. I told him I didn't plan on buying a sick dog! So he offered to have the dog monitored for a few days until he gets back in town, and then we would talk. I hope I did the right thing to hand over the dog. And I hope he gives me a refund--a full one! Being a young widow with 2 young kids, he really took advantage! But I am not gonna give up. I'll have him and his store on the news if that's what it takes!

I spent over $1,000 on this dog! And I can't afford to have to keep up with the vet visits, etc. I also fell on the ice trying to clean out the cage. I messed up my back.

Guy of Cape Coral FL (02/10/08)

I bought an Italian Greyhound in the end of 2006. The dog was ill the week after, throwing up and could not hold down food. I took the dog to the Vet linked to Petland; they told me to give her medicated food, and she should be okay in a few days. This dog was not eating or drinking, and was weak. And this was the advice of a Vet. After about 3 hours, the dog was whining and screaming all day. We finally took her to our own vet, and the dog had pneumonia, and was almost dead. We called Petland to state this, and they stated we should have revisited the vet they use, and would not pay the bill. Now the dog has chronic issues, spinal deformity, wobble syndrome, muscle and nerve issues.

The results are this dog will have life-long medical needs beyond my ability to pay. These dogs are supposed to be well breed, and good blood lines; this looks like a mill puppy situation. The papers given when you buy the dogs state pure breed; the results of the dog I have purchased show this as being false. This dog now has to be seen by a nerve and spinal DR in Sarasota to see if this is life-challenging. They need to pay for this dog's medical. and return my money for selling me a sick dog. This is by no means a good experience. I love this dog, and she's family, and we'll do whatever it takes, but this company needs to be held accountable. And I will do whatever to make sure this is known.

Beth of Bremen OH (02/09/08)

In August 2004, I entered Petland in Lancaster, Ohio. I have been in there quite a few times as I love to pet the kitties, but this time I really looked at the Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier. I had seen him there before, and I used to go in once a week. I of course fell in love instantly. He was 4 months old. His price was $1300.00 but because he had been there so long they were willing to come down to $600.00. Well, I went home, told my husband and he said yes, so I went back to get him. Now, I will tell you he was pretty good--that is for about a week. All of a sudden, his skin turned black and he itched awful. His ears were infected as well. I had already taken him in to their vet for the initial vaccinations and exam, and he was in perfect health they said (of course).

Well he is now 3 years old, on Prednisone every day, on Benadryl every day and has to eat special food that costs $40.00 a bag. I have spent over $2500.00 on vet bills. He is such a good boy, and we all love him so much. I did locate his birth place, and it is a puppy mill. I should learn my lesson, but I went in to a different one last week and found an older lab/basset mix. I probably will get him; someone has to save these puppies.

Marla of Melbourne FL (02/03/08)

I purchased a Sheltie puppy from the Petland in Viera, Florida on December 21, 2007 for my parents who had recently lost their two Shelties. The same night she was purchased, she started coughing. We took her to Petland's vet as per our contract and were told she had kennel cough, possibly from her vaccination for kennel cough just days before. We were given meds and there was high pressure by the vet to get her next round of vaccinations (which we would have to pay for) while we were there. I immediately lost faith and trust in the vet when they wanted to vaccinate a sick puppy. I declined the vaccinations and all the other supplies that they tried to pressure me to buy while I was there. I did the nebulizer treatment that Petland has in its store for a week, and gave her antibiotics and still she coughed. When I returned to the vet, each time they recommended vaccinating her, and I declined saying I didn't want her to get them while she was sick. Eventually, after a month went by and our puppy was no better, I went back to the vet and was told that Petland would not cover her vet bills, and that our contract was null and void with them, due to not following their vet's advice and getting her vaccinated. I left the vet's office that day telling them that neither they nor Petland care about their pets! I have since been seeing my own vet at the Melbourne Animal Hospital who advised me to hold off on all vaccinations until she gets over this bought of kennel cough. I'm just glad that I did not follow Petland's vet's advice. They just want to make money and don't seem to care about animals.