Soldier trades cigarettes for maimed, hungry dog

Leslie Smith, Editor in Chief

Wednesday May 23rd, 2012

Column_screen_shot_2012-05-23_at_11.49.36_am

Nick B and rescued Afghan dog, Bodhi

Army Sergeant Nick B. took unusual action against cruelty he witnessed serving in Afghanistan. When he encountered a tied-up, skinny Shepherd mix covered in mud, ears and tail hacked away, Nick asked the people living nearby if he could have him. But the owners, who were planning to use the dog for gruesome "entertainment" purposes, were only willing to give him up in return for cigarettes. The soldier happily traded.

Nick won the dog’s trust by approaching him gently and offering bits of beef jerky. And Bodhi, as he’s now known, eventually won the hearts of Nick’s entire unit. With the help of an organization called Puppy Rescue Mission, Nick was able to ensure that Bodhi would be flown to the U.S. when the soldier's tour was finished. On Saturday, the two were reunited in Pensacola, Fla.

To hear Nick talk about Bodhi and what his rescue has meant to him almost restores one’s faith in humanity. Almost. I want to hug them both and personally thank the sergeant for making the world a kinder place for a dog discovered half the world away. In my book, that alone makes you a hero, no matter how bravely you performed in your other soldierly duties. Readers seem to agree.

What’s interesting is that the story of another, once ill-fated puppy, received a much cooler reception. Last week we reported that Pamela Anderson adopted a stray she found struggling on the streets of Mumbai, India. Most of the comments expressed anger she hadn’t adopted here at home — or accused her of simply doing it for publicity.

Is there a difference in the two rescues? Sure, the sergeant was stationed in Afghanistan — but I’m not sure he would call it home. And certainly he knew that when he returned to the U.S., there would be plenty of deserving dogs waiting for adoption. So why the kudos for him and the hostility toward Anderson?

Reunited in Pensacola, FL

I’m not a Pamela Anderson aficionado nor am I an expert in publicity stunts. I have no idea how pure her motivations were, but I can’t help but think there are flashier, more effective ways for the woman to get her name in the news. And while Nick’s actions are surely praiseworthy, there’s a good chance Anderson’s will have an even further-reaching positive effect: Both rescued a dog from a hostile, even torturous, environment, and both left behind many animals who face abject suffering. But will Anderson’s celebrity status actually inspire other Indians to follow her lead and reach out to a needy stray (as she said she hopes it will)? Crazier things have happened.

The point of this post is not to deify Pamela Anderson. It’s to defend anyone doing the right thing for animals, no matter where in the world they happen to be, no matter what moves them in a particular instance to act compassionately.

Too many humans act barbarically toward other species. Many more humans stand by and do nothing. Let’s rally behind those who do take action — and commit to making kindness and respect the new norm the world over.

Tags

News

Around the Web

DogTime newsletter

	God bless this man and all who are like him!! 19 days ago by SasyCat
	I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!!!!!! 20 days ago by Crystal
	How about we start thinking about all people and animals together in this world instead of our own country.....drawing a line and saying "this side is better" is why we have so many problems in our world in the 1st place . The difference between a dog suffering in the states or a dog suffering in Afghanistan is.....nothing. They are both suffering....because of humans. 20 days ago by Colleen
	This article is awesome. I have three dogs and a cat. I didn't 'choose' them, they chose me. I expect that if I had met any of my furkids in a different part of the world, the result would've been the same...they would've become my heart no matter what country I found them in. Animals speak to us, to our souls and become ours from the moment we look into their eyes. I admire both the soldier and Pamela Anderson for doing what they could to save the animals they saved. It speaks to the condition of the world and the human condition when an individual can't show compassion without being talked about in a negative manner. 20 days ago by Beth1980

see all 121 comments →

Recent conversations on these topics

Willamette Animal Rescue previously NW Animal Rescue Alliance- BUYER BEWARE
This organization “Willamette Animal Rescue” is NOT a foster based program as her adoption website portrays. There are only a few fosterers’ mainly consisting of family/friends. There is a facility with 150+ sick, starving, dehydrated, and wounded animals. You can conclude that these helpless beings are clearly neglected! She (Alicia Inglish) has previously operated Northwest Animal Rescue Alliance, as well as having many aliases. This all can be found just by googling around. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HELP THESE ANIMALS FROM THESE MONEY HUNGRY PEOPLE. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THESE POOR AND UNHEALTHY LITTLE BEINGS! THIS IS A VERY UNORGANIZED so called "NON-PROFIT" BUSINESS. IF THIS WASN'T TRUE WHY ISN'T SHE ALLOWED TO GET ANY ANIMALS FROM (WILLAMETTE HUMANE SOCIETY or MARION COUNTY DOG SHELTER/DOG CONTROL)? WHY WON'T SHE ALLOW ANYONE IN ON THE INSIDE? WHY IS THERE NO PHYSICAL ADDRESS ANYWHERE FOR THIS SO CALLED RESCUE GROUP? I am one of her many ex-volunteers, who is trying to bring this to closure, (as I heard from a Marion County Worker). I blindly came into this situation assuming these helpless beings were rescued by a good heart. This is far from the truth! Her intentions are to only benefit herself! The physical address of this so called foster based organization is: 8955 Pueblo Ave. NE Brooks, OR. 97305 (Above the main door, there is a blue awning that says Softball Oregon. It is the second building to your right. It is across from Chemeketa Brooks Facility). There is a travel trailer on the backside of this building where she hoards more animals. There is also a white van in front of the building where she stores the hazardous waste material, being she can't even afford appropriate garbage service. Due to her unhealthy disposal of waste, the animals are at great risk for further disease. Of course this makes their habitats very unhealthy and is NOT proper care. She continuously struggles to come up with her $4000.00 rent fee for the building each month. Unless there is food donated (which very rarely happens), the animals go hungry. Just by standing on the outside of this facility you can smell how unsanitary the inside is. Upon volunteering I became very tight chested, which caused an asthma attack. It smelt of strongly concentrated urine due to dehydration and feces. Their feces as well as their urine contain blood. Every single animal in this facility has diarrhea. Make sure you contact Oregon Humane Society, ASPCA, local news, local police, local shelters, Better Business Bureau, town commissioner, and city mayor with all your situations. This woman finds/collects these animals all the way down to CA and up into WA. Being she can’t have animals from the local Salem shelters, make sure our voices are heard at all Northwest shelters. Warn everyone you know!
can you love your sog tooo much
i that think you can love your dog too much so what do you think please leave a reply
Is safe/not living with a dog while I am pregnant?
Is it safe to live with a dog while I am pregnant? As far as I know that prenatal development is very important. Everything can be a teratogen. Teratogens are substances that can harm my baby for instance dogs' hair. I have a story that is a true story. My doctor had two grandchildren who were deaf since they were born. He was trying so hard to heal his grandchildren, but unfortunetly, they could not be healed. He went to Singapore to check them up, and doctors in there told him that the cause was toxoplasma. My doctor's daughter used to have a lot of dogs inside her house. What do you think about this story? I want to know more about that because everthing has a possibility that we never know. I don't want to conduct an experiment with my own baby. That's why I am so curios. Thank you readers.
switching teams
I worked at a vet clinic for sometime. We sold the veterinary level foods from several different brands. The kinds pets need when they have extreme food allergies or diabetic or renal care. This food is on the higher end of pet food price range. About twice as much as grocery grade foods. But still we regularly have people come in buying the best for their furry babies. One time, a man came in to pick up the renal food for "his wife's" cat. I think for the case of canned cat food the total was $24. He jokingly scoffs at the cost and hands me a credit card. Then he says, "I can't believe I'm spending this much on cat food. I never used to be a cat person. I didn't get them. I was a dog person. I understand dogs, they show you exactly what they're feeling and thinking. Who would want an animal that doesn't run up to you when you get home? But now that we've had these two cats, I get it. It's a different kind of love. It just took having them to understand it." I haven't worked at that clinic for a few years now but moments like that are still crisp and vivid in my mind. It sounds like a similar transition for your dad. Maybe it started as a quest for companionship but turned out to be such a close camaraderie. Congratulations to him on his newfound love and hopefully this will be a new point of connection for the two of you.