Dog Walks 70 Miles Through Desert To Find Marine
Nubbs would do anything to find his owner.
Major Brian Dennis, a Florida resident, was in Iraq when he first met this mixed breed dog. When Dennis found him, the dog had been abused and his ears were cut off. Dennis decided to name him Nubbs.
Dennis wrote to his mother back in the U.S. of how he found out that Nubbs’ ears were purposely cut off by an Iraqi to make him look more tough and more alert. Nubbs was supposed to have been a fighting dog.
During the four months they knew each other, Nubbs and Dennis became close. Dennis shared his frustration and distress with his mother whenever Nubbs was hurt and abused like when he had been stabbed with a screwdriver.
Dennis nursed Nubbs back to health, and the two even slept together to stay warm in the frigid temperatures.
All was well except when one day, Dennis was ordered to move his squadron 70 miles away and had to leave Nubbs.
But two days later after Dennis had moved, Nubbs came along and gave Dennis the surprise of a lifetime. The dog had walked 70 miles in the desert in 18 degree temperatures while he was still recovering from his wound to find Dennis.
But then someone reported that Dennis had a dog, and Dennis was told that he had four days to get rid of the dog or Nubbs would be shot.
Dennis would not abandon Nubbs after all that they had been through and he wanted to bring the dog to safety. He wrote to his mom, “Nubbs was going to America, this dog had been through a lifetime of fighting war, abuse, and had tracked our team over 70 miles of harsh desert (and) was going to live the good life.”
An email campaign was started by Dennis and within two days, three thousand dollars was raised to bring Nubbs home.
Nubbs was transported to the U.S. and a family will take care of him until Dennis and him can be reunited again.
Dennis’ mother said, “I almost feel like Brian is his guardian angel and maybe he is Brian’s guardian angel.”
Source: ABC Action News
February 14th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
The loyalty and intelligence and pure strong love that Nubb’s has is something that should be protected and treasured just like Dennis did. THANK GOD this dog was wisked to safty from the pitts of Hell. THANK YOU DENNIS and anyone who helped. In the picture, this dogs face speaks a million stories and shows the love and security he feels when in his beloved masters arms.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Awesome story of a true American Hero!!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Incredible story of devotion on behalf of the dog and Major Dennis. Hopefully, they will be reunited soon.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Yes, what a great follow-up story that would be. Dennis and Nubbs reunited back home. Let’s hope that happens and soon.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Who was going to shoot the dog? The soldiers commanding officer? Now that makes me mad, whoever it was!
I hope that the troops can come home soon so that Dennis and Nubbs can be reunited.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
What an amazing story…Dennis you are an angle…Good Luck over there and I hope you come home soon to see your furry friend “Nubbs”
February 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Oh that story brought tears to my eyes!!
I wonder who was going to shoot him! How barbaric is that?!! I certainly hope it wasn’t a rule of our military to shoot dogs that find refuge with our soldiers to share hope and a reason to live another day.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
What an amazing story….Dennis you are an angel….Good Luck over there and I hope you come home soon to see your furry friend “Nubbs”
February 14th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Now Nubbs really has a birthday !!
Who was that “person” that wanted to shoot this poor dog..
Cannot wait to read the story “Nubbs is home in the USA” !!!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
This is wonderful! How amazing that people came together and got Nubbs over here to the US!
May Nubbs and Dennis be reunited soon!
~The Lioness
February 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hey, Dennis,
I, and loads of people here in the States (And, hard to believe also my folks in France) are proud of You, your fellow Marines and all military personnel. Because of You, fragile freedom is kept in the world…… The look on Nubbs’ face in your arms tells it all. Come back soon and safe, your dog is waiting for You !
Pierre.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Truly a heart warming story. I’d do anything to keep that loyal of a dog because I know he would more likely to die to protect me than another fellow being. He should be trained to be a service dog to the soldiers. I want to know who was the dumb a$$ who wanted to shoot a dog!!! I hope it’s not same heartless Pentagon’s policy to discard unconditional loving breathing living species after we used up their talents. But then again, I should not expect much from the Pentagon since they have been in the news lately for mistreatments of our vets!
February 14th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
What a great story of love and devotion !
I also can’t believe that someone wanted to shoot Nubbs.
That attitude exemplifies the cruelty and harshness of war.
It saddens me to think that someone (probably in command) has become so heartless that he had the desire to punish Dennis and to kill Nubbs. They are not the enemy.
I hope that all of our troops come home very soon and that our country will give them the help they need to forget the atrocities of war.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
What a great story! Nubbs found his forever person and he wasn’t going to let go. He picked a good person!
February 14th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Too Sweet!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I love it. what an amazing story.
thank You Dennis, for saving this wonderful dog, Nubbs.
I wonder why i like pets better than animals??
And yes, if you look through the history of wars, most animals are shot or killed in some other way. I know that [unfortunately] for a fact. It’s usually whoever is in command.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
while it’s certainly well worth noting the incredible loyalty of this dog how about the wonderful, kind and devoted soilders like major dennis? talk about loyalty- they have about the hardest job in the world, get paid a pittence and have immense responsibility, get called all sorts of vile names like torturer and baby killer by a hostile ungrateful world and a good portion of their ill natured partisan often hate filled country men- and they still do their job and find it in their hearts to have such compassion for an animal. loyal man/ loyal dog- theyre both champions.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
This is an incredible story about a very special person and and amazing dog. That anyone in our military would ever shoot an innocent animal for no reason is absolutely disgusting - we, as a country, should be deeply ashamed. Hopefully both th Marine and his dog will be home safely soon.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Thank you Brian for saving Nubbs!! I hope you two will have many great, wonderful and loving memories to last you a lifetime. Thank you also, above all for doing what you do, I hope and pray you come home soon and safe. AND not to return. You and Nubbs seems as if you were meant to be together, these things just “don’t happen”, there is a reason and purpose you both were introduced. PLEASE do a follow up story, maybe not just on this site, but this would make an incredible story for ALL news stations to do ( Good Morning America, Today, etc. ) would love to hear how things turn out. Bless you both!!!!!
February 15th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I pray to God that Brian makes it home safe. To lose him now would be a tragedy for Nubbs and all of us. Why are y’all surprised at the fact they would shoot a dog? Their job in Iraq is to kill people and we are the ones that sent them there to do it.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:06 am
My husband, a LtCol in the Marines, said Major Dennis probably ruined his career over this. He said the Major most likely pissed off some senior officer wit the email campaign and will never make rank. Senior officers do not like to see their noses rubbed in stuff, even if it is for something good.
http://network.bestfriends.org/dc/news/12189.html
Nubbs is one of the lucky ones. We don’t even treat our soldier dogs as well as Nubbs is getting. Shame on us.
February 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Two souls with incredible stamina and loyalty. So glad they hooked up and may they be reunited very soon.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
We pay the pentagon’s staff its salaries we can demand a change in its policy regarding dogs at war. Unfortunately, there are many more people who still believe dogs as disposable properties than there are those who don’t.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Amazing man. Amazing dog…………………. Let it be. This love came from the highest rank in the universe.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Brian is a true hero. When I think of someone who is truly good in heart and soul, I imagine a person like this who would willingly do anything for both man and animal. Nubbs didn’t deserve to suffer anymore. He doesn’t need a life of agony and sorrow. He needs to be with Brian. May you come home soon and swiftly to be with your newfound friend, Brian.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
This is very sweet. I hope that Maj. Dennis gets to come home soon. I know that he and Nubbs will take good care of each other.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This is such a heart-warming story…just another tribute to how loyal and loving animals truly are. Major Dennis is such a good person for taking the time and effort to care for this loving and abused animal.
How can I financially help in bringing home Nubs? Is there a website where we can make contributions or a way to contact Major Dennis?
February 18th, 2008 at 6:19 am
This just goes to show you that Dog spelled backwards is GOD. He said He will Never leave us nor forsake us and that is just like a this little friend in a midst of disaster He was there…..be kind to animals they are smarter than you think.
February 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Why is it that all the uneducated, backward, third world countries have so little regard for any living creature other than themselves? To them life is cheap and disposable. Human life and animal life.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Hmmmmm. I thought we were over there trying to bring democracy and advancement in Iraq. Before the war, animal control in Baghdad was for the police to go find the packs of dogs foraging for food and shoot them all.
When in Irag, I never saw a family with a dog. The Iraqis I know, there are MANY here, are all terrified of dogs, cats etc. I cannot let my cats approach them for this reason. Also, they believe them to carry diseases and truly freak out to get away from them. It is like a mass panic attack if they are approached by a dog or cat. A few try to let their kids pet them for a second to show they are not like that, but they cannot maintain it for long!
NUBBS IS 100% LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND BRIAN DENNIS. There is no doubt about it, his life would have been terrible at best in Iraq.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I’m surprised that you folks don’t know that it is the Bush policy to shoot stray dogs on sight to prevent rabies. It is also against regulations for the first time ever that soldiers are not allowed to adopt pets. This used to be considered good for morale but not any more. The commander has the right to tell any soldier at any time to kill their friend.
A fuss was made that rabies vaccines could be given and it would be a great public relations thing but no one in charge was interested. Apparently the only interest is in killing anything that moves and the hell with the damage it is doing to the country, the people, the animals and our military (who are needing mental health care at a record rate.) :(
February 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
What a touching story. I shared it with my students.
The love an animal gives us is endless. It is the only animal that loves
you more than himself.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
This was very sweet! I can’t believe some ignorant person would want to shoot him!
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Good Job! You will have a true friend for life. Your story is very emotional to all of us dog lovers. Again, thank you for saving Nubs life.
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
I am at the same base as the good Major. The entire base adopted this sweet dog. Nubbs is really a wonderful dog and it is so good that after all he has been through–he is coming to the USofA. He deservesit!!
February 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Emotional story, with a happy ending. Unconditional love, a buddy forever.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I love what Brian did for that dog. Life for those animals is so difficult with the mentality of the Arab countries and their cruelity towards animals.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
This brings tears to my eyes…if I had known of this, I would’ve gladly donated some money..
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
wow a truly sad story with a happy ending,i would feed that dog steaks
November 6th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
This story brought tears to my eyes
I’m so glad to hear such a heartwarming story in such a tragic time.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am
Love pure, without complication or condition. What we are striving for.
May 25th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Damn…brought tears to my eyes…loyalty and devotion; reminds me of Hachiko, the Japanese Akita story…
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
:(
July 13th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Great Dog!!!
And a great man!!!
July 14th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Once a dog connects with you, their loyalty is boundless. Thank you Dennis for your service and for caring for Nubbs under such difficult conditions.
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Lazer Zombie: The story is not fake, you nimrod. Here’s a clip from when Dennis and Nubbs were on Ellen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmqFx9_vzd8
October 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Thank you Dennis for your service to our country and for your big heart. I pray for your safe reunion with Nubbs on home turf.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:01 am
wow…im in tears, this is an amazing story…people can be so cruel
November 4th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Ilove this story there are tears down my face ahat a great guy you are Denise what a great pup you resued wonderful love you both
November 10th, 2009 at 2:11 am
This is so touching. I also just watched both of you on Conan O’Brian. You are both so sweet. I was engaged to a fighter pilot, and I know they don’t give up on things easily. I’m happy for both of you and will go out and get the book. God Bless……..
November 10th, 2009 at 3:33 am
Dennis, please do not tell me the name of the SOB who threatened to shoot Nubbs. If you DO, I would have to track down and shoot HIM.
Marine Aviaition, Gung Ho.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I just heard Dennis telling the story on Mark & Brian radio. That’s so cool that Nubbs made it to the U.S. Great work Dennis!
November 10th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I also just herd it on the radio.Lets not forget to thank the military,and the U.S. for allowing the dog to come to the U.S.,They could have refused,They didn’t.Happy hollidays EVERYONE
November 10th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Bless you Dennis
November 10th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hello Dennis. Thank you for your service and for your sacrifices. I was driving the kids to school when I heard you on Mark & Brian. I turned off the engine and sat to listen to your story. I am an animal lover and was so touched by your story. I wrote down the name of your book and then went back into the house. Then, as I am listening to KTLA news, they mentioned that you were coming on at 8:00am. Needless to say, I had to watch so I could see you and Nubbs. You have been blessed with a beautiful loyal Friend, and he has his Protector now. I can’t say how much this has affected me. You are a wonderful person and a HERO. Thank you for sharing this Miracle with us and thanks to all of your friends and loved ones in helping to bring him Home!!!
November 10th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I heard your story today on the radio, and I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for your service and thank you for having a big heart and saving this animal and finding a way to bring the dog back to the States. You are a remarkable person and a true hero.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
MAJ, It took guts to do what you did. I am a retired Army CW5 and I personally salute you. Not many officers would kick the system in the butt for a dog. Nubbs is a lucky puppy.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Just watched Nubbs story ( and himself ) on Conan O’ B. show..
Just wanted to say ( repeat ) that we have a hell of a lot to learn with the Dogs..
A lot of respect to you Major Dennis!
Jose Orlando Rodrigues - Porto - Portugal