Homeless dog who made soldiers smile in warzone adopted by sergeant after being shot

Sergeant Kelsey and his US Army unit found comfort in stray dog Duke while they were at their base in Kosovo, and vowed to give him a forever home after he was suddenly shot in the warzone.

A stray dog who provided comfort to soldiers deployed overseas has been adopted as a part of the family and given a permanent home with one of the troops.

Duke, a three-legged mixed breed, started rooting around the US Army base in Kosovo in search of food and drink in 2021.

His regular visits and wagging tail quickly became a highlight of the soldiers' days, bringing them comfort while they were away from home.

Sergeant Kelsey developed a particularly strong bond with the stray dog and was determined to find Duke a better home away from danger.

Paws of War, a New York-based organization, pledged to help in bringing Duke to America so that he and the sergeant could reunite.

However, disaster struck before Duke could be safely transported to his new adoptive home in the United States.

Soldiers searched for him for several days after he stopped showing up at the base.

They feared the worst before finally spotting him cowering beneath a table, a bullet wound in his back.

Duke had been shot and was in a lot of pain and to save his life, Paws of War dispatched an emergency veterinary team.

The bullet had shattered a bone in his leg, and he had a painful skin condition, according to the vets.

The Alamal Foundation, a long-time overseas rescue partner of Paws of War, provided Duke with medical care while he recovered.

Duke recovered for six months, and soldiers wished him well. Duke was finally able to stand after undergoing extensive surgery and regaining muscle strength. He was soon playing with other dogs and going for walks.

Duke is now ready to embark on the next part of his journey, and will arrive in America in the next month, where he will be greeted with open arms by Sgt. Kelsey.

According to Sgt. Kelsey: “Duke’s return to the Army unit has everyone in the unit ecstatic. This is the time we’ve been waiting for.”

Duke’s rehabilitation team threw him a farewell party, which was attended by everyone who helped him along the way. Duke was treated to a dog-friendly birthday cake complete with party hats and lots of well wishes.

Paws of War has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for Duke’s flight to the United States as well as his ongoing medical care.

“Everyone is thinking of our troops serving overseas right now and they want to help in some way,” said Dereck Cartright, a disabled veteran who works for Paws of War.

“We want to put a smile on their faces and make sure they don’t have to be concerned about Duke’s safety "

We are delighted to help them with this mission, and we hope that many others in the community will support us in doing so. We won’t be able to do it without their help.”