Animals
Soldier Anxious If K-9 Will Recognize Him After 3 Years Then This Happens
U.S. Army Specialist Vance McFarland spent his time in Afghanistan detecting explosive devices with the help of a Czech shepherd named Ikar. The four-legged soldier was trained as a tactical explosive detection dog and even Army Specialist McFarland admitted that having a dog with him on deployment was "almost like having a little bit of home."
But when their deployment ended, Army Specialist McFarland and Ikar joyfully got off the plane at Ft. Bragg, had their photo taken, then Ikar was whisked away to be assimilated back into the training program. But poor Ikar was subjected to a much different fate.
There wasn't an immediate need for Ikar's services once he reached Afghanistan, so he was supposed to be kenneled for a few weeks. Instead, the poor dog was sheltered for 17 long, miserable months. When Mission K9 Rescue learned of Ikar's saga, they intervened. Kristen Maurer, president of the organization, worked hard to free Ikar and a few other dogs that had been set aside. These dogs sacrificed their lives and were considered heroes, but weren't being treated as such.
But when their deployment ended, Army Specialist McFarland and Ikar joyfully got off the plane at Ft. Bragg, had their photo taken, then Ikar was whisked away to be assimilated back into the training program. But poor Ikar was subjected to a much different fate.
There wasn't an immediate need for Ikar's services once he reached Afghanistan, so he was supposed to be kenneled for a few weeks. Instead, the poor dog was sheltered for 17 long, miserable months. When Mission K9 Rescue learned of Ikar's saga, they intervened. Kristen Maurer, president of the organization, worked hard to free Ikar and a few other dogs that had been set aside. These dogs sacrificed their lives and were considered heroes, but weren't being treated as such.
