Honoring Target, the Amazing Afgan War Hero Dog

11/18/2010

 

Today we honor Target - a happy-go-lucky stray pup who just last year was found wandering the war-ravaged streets of Afganistan. Cheating death at every turn, Target had been shot at, blasted by explosives and even run over by insurgents, but she defied the odds and become a life-saving hero by sniffing out a suicide bomber on a U.S. Military Base before he could detonate himself inside the soldier's living quarters. Target is credited with saving the lives of nearly 50+ U.S. soldiers. 

Target worked her way into the lives and hearts of the U.S. Soldiers she voluntarily protected each day and the soldiers began to consider Target as family. In particular, she bonded especially to Army Sgt. Terry Young, who ultimately through the "Hope for Warriors" program was able to raise money to bring Target home with him to Arizona to join his family. 

Target's amazing story captured the hearts and minds of America as well, and she was given a hero's welcome when she arrived to the United States and even landed a  spot on Oprah (VIDEO)!

A Tragic Mistake

Despite defeating so many odds, Target was tragically and mistakenly euthanized this week as a result of a clerical error at an Arizona animal shelter in Pinal County. It sounds like poor Target inadvertently escaped from her yard last week was picked up by an animal control officer and brought to the county's animal shelter, where she stayed over the weekend. Officials said Target was not micro-chipped or licensed with the county.

 "Even if you don't look at the suicide bomber equation, what she meant to me as far as peace of mind and actually feeling good on occasion while being over there, that alone, my sanity factor, she absolutely saved my life," Young told CNN.

If you wish to pay tribute to Target, visit her Facebook Page: Target - in Loving Memory of Hero Dog 

How Could This Happen?

Young and his family are devastated...and so is the rest of America. How could this have happened? Target was not wearing tags nor was she microchipped - but still - if procedures had been followed at the shelter, this wouldn't have happened.

What do you think can be done to make sure a tragedy like this can never happen again? 

 

 

Comments

[DT]

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ARE A SPECIAL KIND OF "STUPID"

[Miriam Horenstein]

My condolences to Targets Family.

[Tonya Cate]

Such carelessness is, unfortunately, quite common. My heartfelt condolences to Target's family, and to others who have suffered the same tragedy.

[Spay & Neuter in MO]

Spay & neuter, shut down puppy mills. Stop pet overpopulation so that euthanasia isn't necessary. Educate so that people realize that mixed breeds are as good as & sometimes better than purebreds.

[Laundalee]

Ok everyone, this is a tradgedy...but the blame goes even further. Those who have animals that are NOT spayed an neutered, who are running the streets producing more and more animals with no homes, filling the shelters past capacity, they a...re the ones ulitmately to blame for this awful death and for the thousands every day. Yes, this dog was a hero!!! But there are thousands everday that are euthanized because our society as a whole unfortunately is not being held responsible for the over population. Lets all get real and get this stopped at the root, the owners who are not repsonsible. You can fire the clerk, shut down that shelter, bad mouth everyone who works there...but in the end, the only way to stop this madness is to stop the animal breeding and overpopulating. Stop looking the other way and if you are appauled..DO SOMETHING. I believe it is true, if you are NOT part of the solution, you are PART of the Problem.
I suggest a campaign to bring about laws requiring spay and neuter and the law be named after this hero.See More

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[Susan]

As an owner of an animal who wandered off or escaped, I've had to take responsibility. I have to be smarter than the animal, as my father and brother would say, who both were breeders. My beloved was found and then lost by the shelter, got out of the cage and facility. I'm sure even the Dog Whisper would agree. Be smarter!!!

[Mamta]

Ma condolences vd d Y oung family...v tôô had a tom cat, Prince..it wandered 2 yrs n nvr returnd bac, bt had bonded our family as a new born baby dus on its arrival...!
:( cud nt stop thkg abt Prince readin abt Target! May God bless d soul of innocent Target..!
Mamta duseja

[Mamta]

Ma condolences vd d Y oung family...v tôô had a tom cat, Prince..it wandered 2 yrs n nvr returnd bac, bt had bonded our family as a new born baby dus on its arrival...!
:( cud nt stop thkg abt Prince readin abt Target! May God bless d soul of innocent Target..!
Mamta duseja

[xaNo]

I can believe that they would do that so quick. Or that the staff there is that stupid. It is hard enough to get these jobs, I would to think that with all the screening they do, they would hire someone that careless.

[Laundalee]

Ok everyone, this is a tradgedy...but the blame goes even further. Those who have animals that are NOT spayed an neutered, who are running the streets producing more and more animals with no homes, filling the shelters past capacity, they a...re the ones ulitmately to blame for this awful death and for the thousands every day. Yes, this dog was a hero!!! But there are thousands everday that are euthanized because our society as a whole unfortunately is not being held responsible for the over population. Lets all get real and get this stopped at the root, the owners who are not repsonsible. You can fire the clerk, shut down that shelter, bad mouth everyone who works there...but in the end, the only way to stop this madness is to stop the animal breeding and overpopulating. Stop looking the other way and if you are appauled..DO SOMETHING. I believe it is true, if you are NOT part of the solution, you are PART of the Problem.
I suggest a campaign to bring about laws requiring spay and neuter and the law be named after this hero.See More

[Lynda Zimmer]

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard. To be such a heroic dog and save so many lives only to come to America "land of the free" to be put to death! Wow....I'm very sad about this.

[Lynda Zimmer]

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard. To be such a heroic dog and save so many lives only to come to America "land of the free" to be put to death! Wow....I'm very sad about this.

[C. Hackney]

The owners of Target should have had a collar on him with ID information. People this day and time want to blame someone else. I volunteer at our local animal shelter and see first hand what the real story behind the tragedy that befalls a lot of animals is.

[Doglover]

This could've been avoided by 2 things:
#1 securing the yard so the dog couldnt escape and, in the event that the dog DOES escape
#2 microchipping the dog. The owner has to take responsibility for this particular dog.

[Chris O]

There are apparently ways to not kill off every dog / cat around. Spay and Neuter is important (my dog has been spayed) but there is also a group that is trying to make shelters aware of no kill alternatives:

http://www.facebook.com/NOKILLNATION

[s3n+iN3L]

such a sad ending for the life of a not-so-ordinary-canine hero who survived getting shot, blasted and ran over by insurgents in Afghan only to get killed by someone's carelessness and stupidity in America who supposed to cared for her.. they should've not taken her in Afghan if they can't get her on a secured location and watch over her all the time..