WAR DOG FOUND MONTHS AFTER AFGHAN AMBUSH

(as reported by Huw Borland for Sky News Online - Thursday 12th November '09)

A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan 14 months ago has been found and returned to its unit.
Sabi the black Labrador was on patrol with Australian, US and Afghan forces, in September 2008, when Taliban militants ambushed them in the war-torn Uruzgan province.

The subsequent gunfight left nine troops wounded, including the dog's handler, and earned one Australian soldier the country's highest bravery medal.

But Sabi vanished during the battle and months of searching failed to find any sign of the labrador - until now.  An American soldier recovered the black lab at an isolated patrol base elsewhere in Uruzgan last week.

SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson received the Victoria Cross for rescuing a wounded interpreter under heavy machine-gun fire during the ambush.  The hero said: "She's the last piece of the puzzle. Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It's a fantastic morale-booster for the guys."

Exactly where Sabi has been or what happened to her during the past 14 months will probably never be known.  But her good condition when she was found suggests somebody had been looking after her, military spokesman Brigadier Brian Dawson said.

The dog was being tested for diseases before a decision can be made on whether she can return to Australia.

If I can find anything out on her future, I will update this story.

Welcome back, Sabi