Marine reunites with loyal stray
Nov 23, 2012 15:38:07 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Nov 23, 2012 15:38:07 GMT -5
Marine reunites with loyal stray who refused to leave his side
Shaun with Bolt
Marine Shaun Duling bonded with a stray dog named Bolt in Afghanistan and thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, will be able to bring Bolt home to the States.
While Shaun Duling was serving in Afghanistan last year, he met a stray dog named Bolt. When he arrived and was being taken to base, he noticed a pair of dogs running alongside their van. One was well fed, and the other malnourished and skinny - that was Bolt. Feeling bad for Bolt, Shaun began to feed and take care of the dog, and the two became friends. Bolt started following Shaun everywhere he went. Shaun said that before he knew it Bolt was putting on some weight, running around and playing and just looking like a normal happy dog again.
Shaun said, "He took to me, and since I got there, everywhere I went he was pretty much by my side or behind me."
When winter set in, Shaun got permmission from his tent mates to set up a spot for Bolt inside where it was warm. "I put down a foam pad and one of my Redskins blankets under one of my tables and taught Bolt how to come in and out of the tent. He immediately laid down on his bed and slept the entire night without a problem," said Shaun.
After winter the commander of the base ordered all the dogs removed. Shaun took off the collar he had made for Bolt as a memento and sadly said goodbye to his new friend.
Bolt in the makeshift dog house Shaun made for him.
The dogs were loaded up and taken to a village 20 miles away. But Bolt refused to stay behind and followed after the convoy for 10 miles before the vehicle commander let him back on.
Shaun was surprised at his friend's unexpected return. He described, "It was pitch black, 3 o'clock in the morning and all of a sudden out of nowhere, Bolt just comes running full speed behind me. He half scared me to death. It was a good feeling having your buddy back." After hearing the story, the base commander agreed Bolt could stay.
But Shaun and Bolt had to say "goodbye" a second time recently when Shaun's tour was up and he was heading back to his Virginia home. "As I was walking to the helicopter I tried to get some of the guys to hold on to him, but he broke free and he tried to jump on with me," Shaun said. "I think he knew I was leaving, and leaving for good. He just looked sad and confused and I was just like that can't be the last time I see him."
So immediately Shaun began to look for a way to bring his four-legged friend back home with him. He spoke with Nowzad and was told he would need to raise $4000 to bring the dog back to the US. Since last month, fundraising has been underway and this week their goal was met! Bolt is currently in Nowzad's care and could be flown over to Shaun as soon as next month.
Update: November 21, 2012
Bolt arrived in the U.S. on November 9th and was greeted by Shaun at the airport. Here are some pictures from the Soldiers' Animal Companions Fund (SAC Fund) Facebook page of their happy reunion!
s3.amazonaws.com/heirnet/photos/62471/bolt-arrives3.jpg
www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/2098-marine-reunites-with-loyal-stray-who-refused-to-leave-his-side
Shaun with Bolt
Marine Shaun Duling bonded with a stray dog named Bolt in Afghanistan and thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, will be able to bring Bolt home to the States.
While Shaun Duling was serving in Afghanistan last year, he met a stray dog named Bolt. When he arrived and was being taken to base, he noticed a pair of dogs running alongside their van. One was well fed, and the other malnourished and skinny - that was Bolt. Feeling bad for Bolt, Shaun began to feed and take care of the dog, and the two became friends. Bolt started following Shaun everywhere he went. Shaun said that before he knew it Bolt was putting on some weight, running around and playing and just looking like a normal happy dog again.
Shaun said, "He took to me, and since I got there, everywhere I went he was pretty much by my side or behind me."
When winter set in, Shaun got permmission from his tent mates to set up a spot for Bolt inside where it was warm. "I put down a foam pad and one of my Redskins blankets under one of my tables and taught Bolt how to come in and out of the tent. He immediately laid down on his bed and slept the entire night without a problem," said Shaun.
After winter the commander of the base ordered all the dogs removed. Shaun took off the collar he had made for Bolt as a memento and sadly said goodbye to his new friend.
Bolt in the makeshift dog house Shaun made for him.
The dogs were loaded up and taken to a village 20 miles away. But Bolt refused to stay behind and followed after the convoy for 10 miles before the vehicle commander let him back on.
Shaun was surprised at his friend's unexpected return. He described, "It was pitch black, 3 o'clock in the morning and all of a sudden out of nowhere, Bolt just comes running full speed behind me. He half scared me to death. It was a good feeling having your buddy back." After hearing the story, the base commander agreed Bolt could stay.
But Shaun and Bolt had to say "goodbye" a second time recently when Shaun's tour was up and he was heading back to his Virginia home. "As I was walking to the helicopter I tried to get some of the guys to hold on to him, but he broke free and he tried to jump on with me," Shaun said. "I think he knew I was leaving, and leaving for good. He just looked sad and confused and I was just like that can't be the last time I see him."
So immediately Shaun began to look for a way to bring his four-legged friend back home with him. He spoke with Nowzad and was told he would need to raise $4000 to bring the dog back to the US. Since last month, fundraising has been underway and this week their goal was met! Bolt is currently in Nowzad's care and could be flown over to Shaun as soon as next month.
Update: November 21, 2012
Bolt arrived in the U.S. on November 9th and was greeted by Shaun at the airport. Here are some pictures from the Soldiers' Animal Companions Fund (SAC Fund) Facebook page of their happy reunion!
s3.amazonaws.com/heirnet/photos/62471/bolt-arrives3.jpg
www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/2098-marine-reunites-with-loyal-stray-who-refused-to-leave-his-side
