This would be horrible for any pet owner, but it was particularly horrible for Luttrell because Dasy was a therapy dog who was given to him while he was recuperating from injuries sustained in Afghanistan where, in 2005, his team of Navy SEALS was involved in a gunfight with Taliban forces. The other three members of Luttrell's team were killed, and he was badly wounded. Dasy was given to Luttrell by America's VetDogs, a program of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. Her name was an acronym of the nicknames of Luttrell and his fallen teammates: Daniel "Danny" Dietz, Matthew "Axe" Axelson, Southern boy (Marcus), and Michael "Yankee" Murphy.Unfortunately for Dasy's killers, Luttrell was able to track them down. A high-speed chase ensued, at the end of which the punks were stopped by police and taken into custody. Two of the four--Alfonso Hernandez and Michael Edmonds--have been arrested. The other two men have not been charged. It is believed that these men are also responsible for killing five other dogs in the area.
Regardless of your opinions on the war or the military, this is unacceptable. The companion dogs provided to soldiers injured in combat are more than just pets. They are friends who help them recover from their experiences. And the men and women who receive these dogs are not just soldiers. They are people whose lives have been turned upside down by what has happened to them. As someone who has taught scuba diving to handicapped returning veterans, I can tell you that nothing means more to these injured women and men than knowing that someone cares about them and appreciates the sacrifices they've made.
I don't suppose Marcus Luttrell and I have all that much in common. I imagine we might disagree on a lot of things, and maybe not like each other at all. But none of that matters. What matters is that his best friend has been taken from him, and that's not okay with me.
We can't do anything about the scum who shot Dasy. What we can do is make sure that she isn't forgotten. I encourage you to make a donation in the name of Dasy and Marcus to America's VetDogs. You may also want also want to visit The Dasy Fund, a Facebook page set up by a group collecting donations that will go to Mr. Luttrell.
Marcus's account of his ordeal in Afghanistan, Lone Survivor, will be released in paperback later this month.
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2 comments:
I can get behind that ... thanks for sharing the link
"Scumbags" is right. I abhor any cruelty to animals. I just cannot imagine how I would feel if one of my pets had died in that way. It's awful when they die peacefully, but to know they have been killed in such a savage way must be unbearable. As you have said, Dasy was more than a pet to Luttrell. Dogs like Dasy give their owners a lifeline.
I hope the rest of the group responsible for killing Dasy are found. I know what I'd like to do to the bastards.
The fund is a great idea. I will go and contribute through the Facebook page.
Sarah L
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