Australian newspaper, Liverpool Leader, has reported the heartwarming return of an explosive detection dog to her handler at Holsworthy Barracks. Sarbi, a Labrador cross Newfoundland went missing in Afghanistan more than two years ago. She  was separated from her handler when their unit came under attack from insurgents in Uruzgan province in September 2008 and is said to have spent 14 months living in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan before she was returned to coalition forces after being recognised by an American soldier.

The newspaper reports:

Her handler, who is known only as Sergeant D, returned to the area to search for Sarbi as soon as he was released from hospital.

“The handlers have a very strong bond with the dogs,” he said.

“You need that bond so you can react to what the dog’s doing and recognise a change in behaviour.

“I was hopeful but it was always in the back of my mind that I may never see her again.

“When she was finally found I was over the moon.” Sarbi spent six months in quarantine in the United Arab Emirates and a month at the quarantine facility at Eastern Creek.

She will be assessed for her fitness and agility before she can return to work with the Incident Response Regiment at Holsworthy.

“Once I go back to work I will assess her and see if she can continue working,” he said.

“If not, she will come home and spend the rest of her time with me, living it up in the backyard.”

If this story has wet your appetite and you'd like to read more about the life of a dog growing up in Afghanistan, One Dog at a Time by Pen Farthing is worth a read!