Poodle & Cockapoo Mix Small Terrier Mix Hound Mix Pit-Bull Terrier

(Left to Right) Sgt. Travis Burton of Cincinnati, OH; Sgt. Kevin Singer of Freeport, NY; Capt. Clinton Green of Staten Island, NY (standing); Staff Sgt. Edwin Caba of Long Beach, NY (holding Sheba); Sgt. Alex Rotondi of Syracuse, NY; and 1st Lt. Joseph Lapenta of Staten Island, NY are reunited with Sheba and her seven puppies at Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue and Adoption Center, Inc. The soldiers cared for Sheba and raised her seven puppies while stationed in Afghanistan.

 

Six United States Soldiers Reunited with Eight Dogs
They Cared for in Afghanistan at Save-A-Pet

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While stationed in Western Afghanistan in 2012, Staff Sgt. Edwin Caba of Long Beach, NY; Sgt. Alex Rotondi of Syracuse, NY; Sgt. Travis Burton of Cincinnati, OH; Sgt. Kevin Singer of Freeport, NY; Capt. Clinton Green of Staten Island, NY; and 1st Lt. Joseph Lapenta of Staten Island, NY grew to care for a stray dog that started following their unit around. She soon began to go on missions with them and protect them from other wild dogs in the area. They named her “Sheba,” Hebrew for “promise.” From then on, the soldiers made a promise to Sheba to always keep her safe.

On March 23, 2013, Sheba gave birth to seven puppies. Cadence, Rocky, Sarah, Jack, Buckeye, Breezy, and Harris were dubbed “The Magnificent Seven.” The soldiers and their medic cared for both Sheba and all seven puppies to ensure their survival.

Once the soldiers returned home, they could not bear to think of Sheba and her pups still in Afghanistan. To that end, they reached out to Save-A-Pet Founder/President and Guardians of Rescue Vice President Dori Scofield, who was able to help get all the dogs safely to America via Guardians of Rescue’s “Paws of War – No Buddy Left Behind” program. Once Ms. Scofield was notified the base would be closing, she contacted Nowzad Dogs, another nonprofit organization that rescues stray and abandoned animals in Afghanistan. In mid-June, a mission was implemented that allowed Sheba and all seven of her pups to arrive safely at Nowzad’s shelter in Kabul.

Through a FundRazr.com campaign set up by Ms. Scofield, Save-A-Pet and Guardians of Rescue were able to raise more than $15,000 for the dogs’ transport to the United States. Slightly short of their goal, the campaign is still running, yet the organizations pooled additional funds and donations to get the dogs to the United States on September 4th for a heartfelt reunion between six soldiers and eight dogs — all of whom have gone home with soldiers. Sheba is currently being assessed to see if she would make a good companion service dog for a veteran with PTSD.

Videos

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams
CNN Anderson Cooper 360° (Part 1)
CNN Anderson Cooper 360° (Part 2)
CBS / TV 55
FiOS1
News 12

 

Press Clips

NBC News | August 29, 2013 | Soldiers rescue mom and 7 pups

ABC News | September 5, 2013 | Afghan Vets Reunited in NY With 8 Battlefield Dogs

The Wall Street Journal | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Newsday | September 5, 2013 | Afghanistan veterans reunited in Port Jefferson Station with 8 battlefield dogs

Newsday | September 5, 2013 | Doggonit, They're Here

Times Beacon Record | September 5, 2013 | Soldiers and dogs reunite at Save-A-Pet

The Washington Post | September 5, 2013 | Afghanistan war veterans reunited in NY with dog and her 7 puppies born on the battlefield

Daily Journal | September 5, 2013 | Afghanistan war veterans reunited in NY with dog and her 7 puppies born on the battlefield

The Seattle Times | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Daily Reporter | September 5, 2013 | Afghanistan war veterans reunited in NY with dog and her 7 puppies born on the battlefield

Duluth News Tribune | September 5, 2013 | Afghan war vets reunited with 8 battlefield dogs

Army Times | September 5, 2013 | Photo gallery: Afghanistan vets reunited with 8 battlefield dogs

Huffington Post | September 5, 2013 | Afghan Vets Reunited In NY With 8 Battlefield Dogs

Holland Sentinel | September 5, 2013 | Afghan veterans reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Herald Star | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Post Bulletin | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

WLTX | September 5, 2013 | Afghan Vets Reunited in NY With Their Battlefield Dogs

GO San Angelo | September 5, 2013 | Troops, dogs from war are reunited

WDAZ | September 5, 2013 | Afghanistan war veterans reunited in NY with dog and her 7 puppies born on the battlefield

The Bismarck Tribune | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

News-Sentinel | September 5, 2013 | Afghan veterans reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Vindy | September 5, 2013 | 8 battlefield dogs reunite in NY with soldiers who adopted them in Afghanistan

The Tampa Tribune | September 5, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in N.Y. with battlefield dogs

USA Today | September 6, 2013 | Soldier reunited with Afghan puppies

Mail Online | September 6, 2013 | National guard soldiers reunited with dog they rescued from Afghanistan - and her seven new puppies

Republican American | September 6, 2013 | No buddy left behind: Soldiers reunited with Afghan dogs

ABC 10 News | September 6, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in New York with 8 battlefield dogs

Fox 8 | September 6, 2013 | War veterans reunited with dog, 7 puppies born on the battlefield

KHOU | September 6, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited with 8 battlefield dogs

KSHB | September 6, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Journal Gazette | September 6, 2013 | Pet group's gift lets soldiers bring dogs of war home

The Straits Times | September 6, 2013 | US soldiers reunited with 8 doggy friends from Afghanistan

Pilot Online | September 6, 2013 | Afghanistan vets reunited in N.Y. with battlefield dogs

KLTV | September 6, 2013 | Now You See It: U.S. soldiers reunited with four-legged friends

Utica Observer-Dispatch | September 6, 2013 | Afghan vets reunited in NY with 8 battlefield dogs

Cincinnati Enquirer | September 6, 2013 | Soldier reunited with Afghan puppies

Naughty But Nice Rob | September 10, 2013 | You'll Never Believe Who Peed In Anderson Cooper's Green Room!!!

LI Herald | September 12, 2013 | Man's best friend: Soldier reunited with adopted Afghan dog

The Port Times Record | September 12, 2013 | Soldiers embark on new life with dogs

TimesUnion.com | September 13, 2013 | 'Reminder of home' has new home

Long Island Business News | September 20-26, 2013 | Reunion of Best Friends

 

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