The bond between a dog and a human can be incredibly close.
A sad story out of Afghanistan -- from Sky News:
Handler And Dog To Be Flown Home Together
A dog handler and his springer spaniel, who died within hours of each other in Afghanistan, are to be flown home to Britain together.
Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was shot dead on Tuesday while the pair were on patrol in southern Helmand province. His spaniel Theo died of a seizure shortly afterwards.
The Ministry of Defence said on Friday the 22-month-old dog's ashes would be brought back to Britain on the same flight as L/Cpl Tasker.
"A dog can not be repatriated, but they will be returned to the UK on the same day, in the same plane," a defence department spokesman said.
They will be flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire next week.
Three weeks ago, Theo had been praised by the Ministry of Defence for finding 14 hidden bombs and weapons caches in just five months - a record for a dog and handler.
The spaniel, on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan, had uncovered so many improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that his time in the country was extended by a month.
The idea that anyone could consider a dog to be a mindless brute speaks volumes for that person's own spiritual awareness. Keeping one as a family pet is a joy but developing a working bond with one is heaven on earth. You will have a true helper and friend.
