Military dog found, after 1 year missing in Afghanistan

SYDNEY — A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan between Australian troops and militant fighters has been found and returned to its unit after more than a year.

And Sabi the black labrador is getting a celebrity welcome home.

Sabi was with a joint Australian-Afghan army patrol ambushed in restive Uruzgan province in September 2008, triggering a gunfight that wounded nine troops and earned one Australian soldier the country's highest bravery medal.

But there was no sign of Sabi after the battle, and months of searching failed to find any sign of the retriever — until now.

Defense officials said Thursday that a U.S. soldier recovered Sabi at an isolated patrol base elsewhere in Uruzgan. Further details about the base were not given.

The dog was returned to the Australians' base in the province just in time for a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was photographed Wednesday along with the U.S. commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal petting Sabi.

"Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well," Rudd told reporters.
Exactly where Sabi has been or what happened to her during the past 14 months will probably never be known, though that she was in good condition when she was found indicated somebody had been looking after her, military spokesman Brig. Brian Dawson told reporters in Canberra.
The dog was being tested for diseases before a decision was made on whether she can return to Australia.

PETA distances itself from former spokes person Dominque Swain

It sounds like “Alpha Dog” starlet and PETA spokeswoman Dominique Swain needs a refresher course on how to treat animals.

The 29-year-old actress was spotted at an animal shelter in Malibu over the weekend of November 7th, accompanied by her father and a box of eight-week-old, half cocker spaniel puppies that her dog had.

“She was really strung out and just wanted to dump the puppies there, they had never even been to a vet,” an eyewitness tells Tarts. “She was told that it was crucial that they had their shots at four and eight weeks, and they had to be kept away from the other shelter dogs.”

According to the witness, the shelter volunteers asked if Swain could make a donation so the required vaccinations could be performed, otherwise the volunteers at the non profit shelter would have to pay for them.

“She said she had no money, despite [driving in] in her BMW,” the eyewitness said. “She was really rude. Eventually she said she would make a small donation, but just left the pups there and drove off.”

It sounds like Swain may have forgotten the words she uttered in PETA’s “I’d Rather Go Naked Then Wear Fur” campaign under the slogan “Kindness is a Class Act.”

"Cruelty to animals is wrong," Swain said. "If all I have to do is stand in front of a blackboard naked to make people think about the cruelty that animals go through to make a fur coat, I'm perfectly willing. I'm baring my skin to save animals' skins!”

A spokesman for PETA was not impressed with the actress's actions.

"We’ve not worked with Dominique in years and there's no excuse for her allowing her dog to breed in a city that is overflowing with homeless animals literally dying for good homes," said the rep. "There are free and low-cost spay-and-neuter services available all over LA. It is up to all animal guardians to fix their cats and dogs. If people don't have the resources to pay for spaying or neutering, they can still find free clinics by doing the tiniest bit of research."

A rep for Swain did not respond for comment.

Dog becomes first offical XBox canine meber

After accidentally purchasing 5,000 Microsoft Points while chewing on his owner's Xbox 360 controller, Oscar the dog has been officially recognized by Microsoft as the service's first canine member - and given his own Xbox Live account.

A Lab/Hound mix named Oscar - attacked the Xbox 360 controller while his owner slept. According to the owner, while chewing on the controller, Oscar managed to somehow turn the console on and purchase 5,000 Microsoft Points for his owner's account, which was discovered the following morning when the owner found the confirmation from Microsoft of the $62.50 transaction in his email.

The owner wasn't mad, only mystified - and had already spent the points on downloadable games - the story wasn't quite over. Now there's been an official response from Microsoft:

"People spend tens of billions of dollars on their pets every year," said a MS spokesperson, "but it's pretty unusual for your pet to return the favor (except in love and tail wagging of course)."

The Redmond-based software giant will be refunding the points, setting Oscar up with his own Xbox Live subscription and gamertag (with some extra points thrown in so the dog can buy 'Splosion Man, of course) and sending the owner a brand-new, not-chewed-on controller.

Poetry: Old Dog in a Locket

Old dog in a locket

That lays next to my heart

I will always love you

As I did right from the start.

You were right beside me

Through the darkest of my days

It was your kind and gentle nature

That made me want to stay.

Now I hold you in my arms

Your breath still warm against my hand

Our hearts still beat together

And I wonder if you understand.

Through the hours that I held you

Before the light did leave your soul

I knew a way to keep you

Forever in my hold.

I snipped the hair from around your eyes

So I would always see

The beauty that surrounds me

Even in times of need.

I snipped the hair from around your ears

So I would always hear

Music in the distance

To quiet any fears.

I snipped the hair from across your back

To bring me strength in time of need

And the power of your essence

Would always be with me.

I snipped the hair from around your heart

That beat in time with mine

So I would know that love would find me

At some distant time.

And so, your life slipped out of mine

On a quiet Spring like day

But I knew that a part of you

Was always here to stay.

Old dog in a locket

That lays next to my heart

I will always love you

Even though we had to part.

-Heidi Stamm