Heroic Dog is Forced to Stay in Iraq
The pleas of British service personnel in Iraq for the troops ‘hero’ dog, Sandbag to return back with them to the UK have been rejected by Downing Street.
Sandbag had been living with the troops at their base in Um Qasa, near Basra, and was known to bring them good luck on patrols, even though he is rumoured to have been shot 5 times.
Due to the withdrawal of forces from Iraq, there are fears Sandbag would be put down by the Iraqis or killed by local dogs.
As well as his own Facebook page, over 6,000 people signed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for the dog to be allowed into the UK.
Copyright AP
His hopes were dashed today when the Government confirmed that Sandbag and his fellow mascot, Hesco the cat, would be have to stay in Iraq.
The Downing Street response said,’The base in Um Qasa where Sandbag and Hesco were living has now been handed over to American forces.’
‘Our U.S. colleagues have assured us that both Sandbag and Hesco will be well cared for. Both are currently fit and healthy.
Both animals have lived at the base since they were born and British forces felt that staying there would be best for Sandbag and Hesco.
‘Commanders on the grounds always take decisions on the future of mascot animals on a case-by-case basis.
‘The Government supports the decision taken in this case.’
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Gordon Brown visited the Um Qasa base last December, when he announced that troops were pulling out, but he did not meet the animals on his visit.
Sandbag was born about 2 years ago and quickly latched himself onto the troops. The soldiers vaccinated him, gave him a collar, and even know his barks to let him into camp.
He got his name for his sandy coat and because he protects the men of B Squadron of the Queen’s Royal Hussars from stray dogs around their base at the southern port of Umm Qasr. Hesco the cat got her name from the sand-filled blast walls on top of which she likes to sleep.
He loves helicopters and often follows the troops out when they go on patrol.
He has various scars from scraps with other stray dogs and – according to base legend – several bullet wounds.
He is supposed not to have warmed to the Americans that much as he does not recognise their uniforms.
One soldier said: ‘He’s very loyal to the troops – if you get mobbed by other dogs, he will literally fight every single one of them.
‘He’s a Tyson among the pups.’
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