Marine Refuses To Leave Loyal Stray Dog Behind In Iraq

Nubs is a dog born in Iraq. He met Maj. Brian Dennis in October 2007 and almost immediately a strong bond of friendship was formed between the pair. Dennis says there were many stray dogs scavenging for food at the border fort he was stationed at. The dogs acted as unofficial guard dogs, sounding the alarm if strangers approached the fort.

As soon as Dennis met Nubs, the dog flipped over on his belly for a belly rub and began playing with him. Dennis said that his whole team bonded with the dog as soon as they met him.

Nubs got his nickname because he had his ears cut off, a practice used in dog fighting. One day, when Dennis was out on patrol, he discovered Nubs badly hurt. Dennis was told Nubs had been stabbed by an Iraqi soldier who had gotten mad at the dog and jabbed him with a big screwdriver. Dennis took the wounded dog in and nursed him back to health.

A while later, Dennis was assigned to a new fort, around 75 miles away. U.S. Marines and soldiers aren’t allowed to keep pets, so when Dennis headed out, he thought he was saying “goodbye” to Nubs for good. Nubs chased after Dennis’ convoy until they rode out of sight.

Amazingly, a couple of days later, Dennis was inside the headquarters at the fort when a Marine ran in to tell him someone was outside to see him. Dennis thought the soldier was talking about a person, but when he found out it was Nubs he ran out to see him and the dog went crazy jumping on him, overjoyed to see his friend.

Dennis couldn’t believe it. Nubs had followed him 75 miles on foot! No one had any idea how the loyal dog had made the journey. Despite the rule against having pets, Dennis and his Marines built a doghouse for Nubs and let him stay.

Unfortunately, a senior command received a complaint and Dennis was ordered to get rid of the dog. But Dennis knew that this time he could not say goodbye to his friend again and it was his turn to be a loyal friend.

Ultimately, with the help of friends, Dennis was able to raise the money needed to get Nubs shipped home. They received a lot of support from kind strangers and friends in the US and in Iraq, who all helped in getting Nubs and Dennis back together. Back at home, Dennis was inspired to write a book about his adventures with Nubs.

Pupdate:

Nubs passed away in 2018 aged around 12 years old. He had been battling hypothyroidism and Cushing’s Disease for a little over a year.

After his passing Brian wrote, “He has been with me and our family through thick and thin, all over the world for over 10 years. He was a loyal friend, a patient and devoted companion, and pretty much a near-sibling to our two young sons. He lived a great, long, and amazing life and now rests in the sand dunes of Padre Island with a daily view of the Gulf of Mexico.”

He thanked Nubs directly in his eulogy writing: “You changed all of our lives for the better and will always be a part of our family. Your story touched thousands of people around the world and brought joy to so many people; you will truly be missed. But you will always live on through the amazing act of bravery, loyalty, and kindness that made you known to so many. Thank you for deciding to get up out of the dirt and walk so many miles to find me all those years ago – I’ll never forget you.”