Bomb-sniffing dog adopted by parents of Marine killed in Afghanistan
A bomb-sniffing Labrador named Eli is home from war, adopted by the parents of his Marine handler who was killed by a sniper in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of other dogs are still serving in Afghanistan, particularly with Marines fighting to wrest control of Helmand province from Taliban control. The dogs are so effective at sniffing out buried roadside bombs that some Marines believe Taliban snipers are targeting the canines.
The Marine Corps has a $53-million annual budget for what are technically known as improvised detection dogs.
Many of the Marine dogs are trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Others are trained by private contractors. The relationship between the handler and his dog is nurtured through predeployment training, including at Twentynine Palms.
"That relationship is what saves lives," said Marine dog handler Cpl. Al Brenner. "You need to be able to read your dog."
In Afghanistan, the dogs are a morale-booster for Marines patrolling villages.
"You feel a little more confidence, safer, with the dog," said dog handler Cpl. Cody Richeal.
In the case of Eli, Darrell and Kathy Rusk arranged to adopt the dog and take it to their ranch in Texas. They were grateful Eli guarded their son, Pfc. Colton Rusk, after he was hit by a sniper.
Rusk, from the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, later died from his wounds.
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Afghanistan's most loyal troops
-- Tony Perry in San Diego
Photo: Eli, the retired Marine dog. Credit: U.S. Air Force