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Kabul
dog demobbed
A
STRAY dog adopted by British soldiers serving in Kabul was released
from quarantine this week to begin his new life in a new home
in Britain writes Nick Mays.
‘Tiger’, a maremma-cross was adopted by Regimental
Quartermaster Sergeant Graeme Smith and his deputy, Sgt Mick
Hart, members of the 216 Signals Squadron after being found
in at a ruined wine factory on the outskirts of Kabul where
they had set up their camp.
"Mick and I just came across this little puppy," said
RQMS Smith, 36, from Irvine, Ayrshire. "He was scrawny,
undernourished and scared stiff of anyone he saw. So we fed
him and he started tagging along." As more soldiers poured
into the new camp, they too began petting and feeding Tiger.
At one stage there were fears for Tiger’s health as he
was becoming overweight withal the treats he was given, so a
strict regime of limited treats was swiftly introduced.
Tiger insisted on sleeping in the soldier's tent. "It was
quite an austere environment but we got hold of an Afghan rug
we bought in town as a sort of home improvement and he slept
on that," added RQMS Smith.
The dog even received attention from Jamie Darling, presenter
of BBC television's Animal Hospital. Darling, a 35-year-old
Australian vet was in Kabul working alongside the World Society
for the Protection of Animals to check out Kabul's zoo animals.
The Daily Telegraph publicised Tiger’s story in the hope
of finding him a good home, at the personal intervention of
Editor Charles Moore who met Tiger during a visit to Kabul in
January.
The dog’s quarantine fees were being paid by the newspaper.
After the newspaper published Tiger’s story, over 400 people
wanted to adopt him.
In March, the dog flew back to Britain on an Antonov transport
aircraft hired to bring home the remnants of 16 Air Assault
Brigade and was taken to the Par Air kennels at Stanway, near
Colchester.
Owner Mike Parrish told OUR DOGS at that time that he was delighted
to be helping Tiger on the first stage of his rehabilitation
in the UK. "He’s doing well, he’s very friendly
and he gets a lot of attention," said Mr Parrish. "He
wasn’t too keen on having a bath when he arrived, because
he does rather like rolling in the mud, but he looks super now."
Because the Regiment is based in Colchester, not far form Par
Air kennels, Tiger was never short if visitors during his stay
in quarantine. Soon after he lande4d, the army authority selected
Paul and Margaret Watson – who works at the barracks –
as his new owners. The Watsons visited Tiger every day and watched
him grow from 42lb to 75 lb and develop even more striking tiger-like
stripes on his body.
Tiger was released form quarantine last week and was delighted
to settle in his new home, after being treated to a lavish send-off
by the kennel staff with biscuits and presents.
Kennelmaid Terry Johnson said: "I am really going to miss
him. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body."
Tiger had to adjust to another new experience upon his release
from quarantine – walking on a lead. Mrs Watson said that
she had arranged a series of obedience lessons for Tiger.
"I will definitely have him at work with me and all those
soldiers who knew him in Afghanistan will have a chance to see
him regularly. I’m just a bit worried about him getting
too fat and spoilt."
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