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Courtesy Logan Black
Former Sgt. Logan Black and his bomb-sniffing dog, Diego, are pictured in April 2006. The pair swept for improvised explosive devices and other weapons in Iraq. Black, who has post-traumatic stress disorder, is campaigning to adopt Diego.
Logan Black has only one dream about his time in Iraq.
From 2006 to 2007, the former sergeant was deployed in Fallujah, sweeping for improvised explosive devices (IED), ammunition, firearms, grenades and raw bomb materials. He survived firefights and IED attacks.
What Black dreams about, though, is the yellow Labrador -- Diego -- that searched for weapons alongside him.
Black, 34, began training with Diego at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri when the dog was a year old. He parted with Diego upon leaving the Army in May 2007. Black has wondered about Diego's fate ever since, leaving phone messages with his unit every six months or so with updated contact information, but said he never heard back.
"I figured he had to be in Afghanistan or Iraq the majority of the time after I left," Black said. "[Diego's safety] was always a concern, but I tried to push that out of my mind. I hoped that he had a handler that kept him safe."
Related: Marine and dog bonded by war, divided by red tape
Black recently turned to a website about military working dog adoptions and posted a request for help to find Diego. He received a response from someone who said he was Diego's second handler. The dog, he said, had been sent back to the U.S. from Iraq in 2008 after another yearlong deployment.
Determined to reunite with Diego, Black recently started a Facebook and Twitter campaign to locate and adopt the dog. On Monday, he learned that Diego, now 8, is stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio as a demonstration aide, teaching other soldiers how to be handlers.
Courtesy Logan Black
Black and Diego, in November 2006, sit in front of a memorial for a former handler and his dog, both of whom were killed in action.
"The greatest thing about this is now I know where he is," said Black, who wants to expedite Diego's adoption.
What many veterans don't know, said Collen McGee, a spokeswoman for the 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, is that a prior handler has priority in adopting his or her retiring dog if it is not first assigned to a civilian law enforcement agency.
Those unaware of the adoption process often go to great lengths to reunite with their dogs. McGee said she receives about one Congressional request a month to help a veteran handler adopt a dog. In addition to starting an online campaign, Black took the same approach and reached out to Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., for assistance. Last year, 319 military working dogs from across the services were adopted; about 90 percent of dogs are adopted by their former handlers.
Technical Sergeant Joseph Null, who runs the adoption program for the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland, told msnbc.com that Diego is nearing retirement age, but in the meantime continues to perform a vital role.
"Without dogs like Diego, there would be no military working dog program," he said. "He’s a critical asset to developing future dog handlers."
Black hopes to train Diego as a service dog to help manage post-traumatic stress disorder -- specifically to help calm him down during stressful situations.
His symptoms emerged after returning home to Salt Lake City. That is when the dreams about Diego began, and when he started to notice a hyper-sensitivity to smells and sights that reminded him of Iraq.
Rip Black, Logan's father, said that much of his son's concern around his deployment was for Diego's safety. "This young man and this dog had a bond that very few of us will ever know or understand," he said.
Black worried that Diego had developed PTSD after an IED struck the back of a vehicle the pair was riding in April 2006. Diego leaped from the back seat into Black's lap and shook uncontrollably.
"After that attack, any kind of loud noises would send him into a similar state," said Black. Those noises included base artillery, gun fire and helicopters. Black would calm him down by bringing out Diego's favorite toy, a hard rubber cone. "We were always able to work through it so it never really slowed him down."
Null said that while Diego had been sensitive to loud noises and was eventually de-certified as a specialized search dog, he was never diagnosed with PTSD.
Null is helping Black through the adoption process, but said there is no timeline yet for Diego's retirement.
Black said he will continue campaigning to be reunited with his friend: "Diego has been the biggest wish I've had for a very long time."
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter here.
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It should also be mentioned that currently, animals used by the military are considered "equipment" and are frequently euthanized when they are no longer useful. There is legislation pending that would change their status so they can be more easily adopted out. It's called the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act (H.R. 1043, S. 2134). Ask your representatives to co-sponsor it!
You are wrong Maria, dogs are not frequently euthanized...I would encourage you to research the actual number of dogs who were euthanized last year for reasons outside of some sort of incurable medical condition. Contact Congress, they will give you the number. I follow the report very closely every year...last year it was only 16 and it was because the dogs were too aggressive and dangerous to go to homes. Most major cities put down hundreds of dogs each week just because they can't find homes for the dogs. Aggressive or not. You should not speak on things you don't know about.
Don't know or care about all the red tape and other nonsense. Give the guy his dog!!!!
Go Diego..
The man needs the dog and the dog needs the man, so I hope they are reunited very soon.We need to start rewarding our troops for their service.
I'm with the rest of the general thought here and agree that these 2 marines should be reunited. Who better to care for each other after retiring from the military than this man and dog? He is in process of getting custody of his war buddy, and, most likely, it's going to happen.
Something most people don't understand here is that Diego is a working dog and, considering his duty, he LIKES to work. Per the report, Diego is currently working in a special role as a demonstration dog i.e. he's in a non-hazardous and non-threatening role almost certainly performing work in a socially rewarding environment. For an older working dog, by this report's description, this would be an IDEAL duty to be able to be performing in the last months of service.
When Diego retires, that doesn't mean he will no longer WANT to work. He's just not going to be a Marine any longer. The things he's doing now he's going to want to continue doing. Mr. Black says he wants to train Diego as a therapy dog. He's spot on for recognizing that the only difference between a retired working dog and an active working dog is age . . . not drive or desire.
I'm in an organization that provides working dogs for military and LEO work. I can tell you that we miss our dogs when they're gone, but they miss work when at home.
As for dogs being euthanized by our military, much of that has been put to a halt and has been for years. Vietnam was perhaps the worst example and burned many people of this practice. To the US Marine Corps' credit, they are "notorious" for NOT euthanizing their K9's. The first example of this was in WW2. When told they were to euthanize their war dogs, the Corp refused on all levels. As many as possible were either returned or adopted.
There are channels for ANYONE to adopt retired war and LEO dogs. The more we adopt, the easier it will be for future home providers.
Good job Mr. Black and Diego. I hope retirement is both rewarding and not so retiring. Honestly, I've never seen truly retired working Marines.
Finally, someone understands...a dog who enjoys working...that is the whole reason the dog was brought into the program to save lives.
If this is all this soldier is asking for, then for crying out loud, give HIM HIS DOG.......he deserves so much more for serving our country and so does the dog.
As a former Vietnam soldier, and still having problems with PTSD, our military owes it to Black to reunite him, and his dog as soon as possible, for both their sakes. As a former breeder, I have twenty-seven dogs at present, and I can tell you that they have been very instrumental in my coping with PTSD. Some of those dogs are rescues, that I came across along the highway. Dogs/puppies, that were discarded alongside the road. They have all become devoted members of my household, and provide me with a sense of comfort, that all the medicines or drugs in this world could never ever provide me. A dog never forgets his first master ...ever! Nor will Mr Black ever forget Diego. Their bond is an unbreakable bond, and it's for life. It should be policy, that once a dog handler and his dog complete a tour of duty, they should be sent home together! It's only the humane thing to do. The military can, and will, find another dog to replace Diego. Our dogs are wonderful creatures. They have feelings and emotions, just like we do. Too many people do not get to really know their dogs, and as a result, do not provide for their emtional needs, as well as nutritional needs. "Get to know your dog, I promise that you will be truely amazed and rewarded, by what you learn!"
Sounds like they both have done their duty and served this great nation, its time for our govt to reunite them and let them recuperate and heal from what they both have been through and experienced
James
Can we cut through the red tape and let this man and his dog be together
As a retired dog handler I'm curious to know what all the fuss is over? This guy left the Army over four years ago and all of a sudden he needs the dog right now...if the dog is training students he must be healthy enough to work otherwise why would the government use him? I know my dog was insane to go to work and search for his reward. The government buys these dogs because they have an incredible desire to work...sure the handler should be allowed to adopt the dog, but if the dog is working and helping save lives why not keep him doing that job that he's good at. I have dogs now and they wouldn't make it as a military working dog...most dogs wouldn't. A general might not be a dog handler, but I bet most of those folks who run the dog program for the government are or were and would want the handler to have the dog once the dog retires. Why risk losing lives so someone can have a pet...I would feel differently if this guy just left the Army but its been four years. I would want my dog to come live with me after everything we went through, but not at the expense of someone's son or daughter dying because my dog was on the couch instead of serving his country.
Just to clarify I've wanted Diego to be with me the day I left service. This isn't an all of a sudden I want a pet deal. I waited this long exactly for the reasons you stated. Pulling him from deployment duty would be wrong but Diego has not been employable for years. He's a training aid and Lackland has many training aid teams. I would never ask for him if it put a service members life at risk.
Let him have him.. that was his buddy throughout the whole war.. please someone help him
If it doesn't work out, call me. I've got a couple of Labs you can have.
First of all, to Sgt. Black and every other service person who has fought for my freedom....thank you! Diego has served his Country for seven years....perhaps they could give him "early retirement" for a job well done. Just because he retires from the military would not mean that he would no longer be providing a service as you indicated your desire to train him to help manage post-traumatic stress disorder...when you have that kind of unconditional love and bond from a service animal, it's one that is extremely unique and special...you deserve to be together. I hope you are reunited soon..
Just cut the crap and give the man the dog. Our veterans do not get enough thanks , so if thee dog is what he wants let him have Diego. They both have earned some peace.
rob roy-3577958 is a bot. Ignore the post.
By my dog year calculations, Diego is over 50 human years old. He should have been able to retire from the military with full benefits a long time ago. As many have said, our military needs to stop looking at K-9s as assets. They do their tour and they should retire.
It is the right thing to do.
PA-CJ, that is exactly how I feel. Diego is a highly trained dog and the army has put a lot into him. But, there is a saturation point and there is a time to retire. Two 1-year long deployments to Iraq in up to 130 degree weather with a fur coat on... hello!!!
My son was Diego's second tour handler and the statements that Logan makes is reflective of how we feel. This is killing us all over again. We just want Diego to be happy for the rest of his life. We tried to adopt him before but the Army wasn't ready to part with him. We feel that Logan would care for him with love and dedication.
Set him free! Let him run and jump and be out of the cement kennel. Please!
Thank you to everyone who's been spreading the word about Diego's story, it all comes down to this. One man has the authority to release Diego with just a phone call. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. So here's the plan, Diego and I need letters. Hundreds of them! And I think that if everyone who supports us mails the letter out on Monday July 9th Secretary Donley's office will be overwhelmed with our call for help. Send your letter to:
Michael B. Donley
Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1670