Dog of war suffers shellshock

[kskiska]

TOO frightened to venture from his kennel, Max is a forgotten casualty of the "war on terror".

When eventually coaxed from behind the steel gate, the sad-eyed golden labrador gives no hints that he was once among the British military's top assets.

Max was tasked with sniffing out explosives, guns and weapons caches across Afghanistan as part of a team of élite army canines.

But since witnessing a deadly suicide bombing in Kabul about five months ago, he has been left shellshocked - unable to cope with working in one of the world's most dangerous countries.

Sergeant Martin Evans, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, said: "Max and his handler were knocked down by the blast wave from a suicide bomber. The dog got up, but he was shaken.

"I would say Max is potentially suffering from a mild case of post-traumatic stress disorder. When he goes out, he's much more wary of local people and can't concentrate on the job.

more…
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=64992007

[evlbstrd]

1. That dog is an accidental lab rat.

Watch Max get more attention for his disorder than any of our combat vets or our Iraqi victims.

[Mythsaje]

2. Time to retire that poor animal

to a nice home in the country with some nice people who understand dogs.

[Bozita]

3. ... and that includes dogs!

[Meldread]

4. So horrible... that poor animal.

I just wish I could take him in - I love dogs.

[hlthe2b]

5. Ohhhhh...

:cry:

I hope they retire that working dog to a peaceful and compassionate safe therapeutic retirement--just as I would hope we'd do with any human suffering from PTSD

[Orsino]

6. I don't value dogs above people...

...but it is especially sad to see an animal or child suffering from something it can't comprehend, and couldn't have volunteered for.