Soldier adopts stray mutt who saved his life in Afghanistan

On the night of Feb. 22, 50 American soldiers were sleeping in a remote military base in Afghanistan. A suicide bomber crept onto the base and was attacked by three dogs.

Three stray dogs named Rufus, Target and Sasha lived near the military base where the 50 soldiers were. As the bomber was approaching the military base to attack the barracks where the soldiers were sleeping the dogs started barking. Then Rufus bit the terrorist's leg while the other dogs kept barking. Because of the attack by the dogs the bomber detonated the explosives before he could get inside the building. The bomber along with Sasha was killed. Five soldiers and the other two dogs were injured. The soldiers were evacuated for treatment. One of the soldiers, Sgt. Chris Duke, a National Guardsman, returned to the base and nursed Rufus back to health. The NewYorkPost reports Duke said, "There isn't a doubt in my mind [that the dogs] saved my life." Duke said when he was homesick Rufus would make him feel better and when he was on watch Rufus was always by his side. Duke lives in Georgia with his wife where he returned in March and never thought he would see his pal again. But the two dogs will now be getting new homes because of two nonprofit organizations, Robert's Cause and the Puppy Rescue Mission. Rufus is now going to live with Duke and his family. Target is being adopted by the Phoenix army medic who saved the dog's life after they were injured. Robert Misseri of Robert's Cause said, "The dogs and the soldiers bonded in such a way that it would be a travesty to leave [the dogs] behind to fend for themselves in a war-torn area and the soldiers never knowing what happened to them. It's our mission to help these soldiers."