'Rex is my partner, I love him': The marine blown up with her dog in Afghanistan now fighting to stop the Corps putting him down

Partners: Leavey is determined to be reunited with military service dog, Rex

A woman who served in Iraq for more than three years is now fighting to adopt the German Shepherd who she survived a roadside bomb with.



As a dog handler for the military, Megan Leavey, 28, completed over 100 missions during two six-month tours in Iraq with the military service dog Rex.

And since being discharged from the military in December 2007 Leavey has campaigned to adopt the bomb-sniffing canine so he can enjoy a civilian life with her in Rockport, New York.

'Rex is my partner; I love him,' Leavey told Msnbc.com 'We have been through so much together … I’ve spent day and night with this dog. It’s a very strong bond.'

Indeed Leavey and Rex, who she handled since her earliest days as a Marine at Camp Pendleton, California, survived the blast of a roadside bomb in Ramadi in 2006, which took them both out of service.

The pair finished their deployment and then spent almost a year rehabilitating from the injuries they had suffered together.

But now Leavey is struggling to adopt the dog she served her country with for more than three years.

Leavey, whose uniform displays a Purple Heart, a combat valor medal and several other decorations, worries if the military will allow 10-year-old Rex to live out his final years in her comfortable home.

Best friends: The pair served together for more than three years and through two deployments

Recovered from his war injuries, the military considered Rex a valuable work dog and denied Leavey's early requests for adoption.

However, the German Shepherd, the oldest active service dog at Camp Pendleton, was recently diagnosed with facial palsy, a nerve paralysis which has left him unable to serve.

'As a safety precaution, they don't give all dogs away,' Leavey said. 'The dilemma with me is the minute they say he can't be adopted, because he's sick and because he can't work, they'd have to put him to sleep.

Together at last: Following a high-profile campaign Leavey has been to can adopt her canine pal

'Not because he's too sick to live a good life, but because they can't utilize him so it wouldn't make sense for them to keep a dog they're not going to work at the kennels. I don't want to let that happen.'

Leavey has upped her effort in recent weeks to make the adoption happen before anyone has the opportunity to decide Rex's fate otherwise.

Backing: Leavey's cause was supported by New York Senator Charles E. Schumer

Explosion: The dog handler and Rex survived a roadside bomb together in 2006

She reached out to local veterans organizations and even contacted New York Senator Charles E. Schumer to help fight her cause.

Schumer sent a letter to Michael B. Donley, secretary of the Air Force, which oversees the training of military service dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.



In his letter, Schumer details the relationship Leavey and Rex had with one another and credits them with saving countless lives.

Fears: Leavey is worried that Rex will be put down now that he can no longer serve the military due to sickness

'They deserve to be reunited after risking their lives to make sure our troops stayed as safe as possible when traveling roads littered with IEDs,' Schumer said in a statement.

'I'm strongly urging the Air Force to do the right thing, cross the T's and dot the I's so that Rex gets the home he deserves.'

Rex had been on a number missions during his previous tour with Marine Cpl. Mike Dowling, another handler.