Afghan hero dog's accidental death saves the life of Destiny

Rufus, Sasha, and Target were stray dogs from Dand Aw Patan district in eastern Paktia Province near the Pakistani border who were adopted by American soldiers. The three dogs became heroes when they barked and attacked a suicide bomber trespassing into the American barracks where they all lived. Five soldiers were wounded, but Sasha's injuries were fatal. Had it not been for the dogs, 50 soldiers would have been killed that evening.

Months later the two surviving dogs Rufus and Target were sent home, thanks to the combined efforts of the Guardians of Rescue of Long Island and the Puppy Rescue Mission. Sergeants Chris Duke and Terry Young, along with their decorated war hero dogs went to live happily ever after, that is until the day Target accidentally ran out of his yard. He was picked up by animal control, and instead of being reunited with Sgt. Young on the following Monday morning, the dog had been mixed up with another dog who was scheduled to be put down and similar in appearance; Target was euthanized by mistake.

Ruth Stalter, the county's animal care and control director was devastated when she found out that Target had been euthanized. Sergeant Young's four-year-old son demanded the poison be taken out of Target's body so his dog could come home.

The story doesn't just end with Target's death although the yellow two-year-old German shepherd mix will live in the hearts of many and always be remembered as a war hero.The dog who wasn't euthanized, a German shepherd mix was also picked up as a stray. No one ever called about her or even came in to claim her, but she was a sweet dog who would roll over on her back when someone came to stroke her head. Had Target not been put down by mistake, this dog would have had the same tragic ending and no one likely would have cared that she had ever lived or died.

The dog who took Target's place has appropriately been named Destiny, and through the generosity of caring people and Pet Airways, Destiny will be flying to Long Island from the Arizona shelter, and will become part of The Guardians of Rescue as a Poster Pup for the launch of Target's Law aimed to protect the rights of shelter animals.

Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue hopes to effect policy changes at municipal shelters in the New York area and throughout the nation with plans to hold adoption events to highlight the plight of animals winding up in shelters.

"We have to wonder whether it's fate that Target died, but Destiny survived to go on and become the poster child for dogs that are euthanized at animal shelters every day," Misseri states. "There are shelters around the country that will not give a dog an inch of a chance to be adopted, because it's easier to just put dogs in the back and put them down."

For more information about The Guardians of Rescue and how you can help or donate, please visit their site at http://guardiansofrescue.org or visit their blog at http://www.fetchdog.com/blogs/nosetotheground/General/guardians_of_rescu...