12 Nov 2009

US soldier finds Aussie dog lost in battle in Afghanistan

10:48 pm on 12 November 2009

A US soldier has found an Australian Special Forces explosives detection dog alive and well, almost 14 months after she went missing in action in Afghanistan.

The ABC reports Sabi was found by the soldier at an isolated patrol base in north-eastern Uruzgan last week.

The four-year-old black Labrador was declared missing in action in September 2008 during the same battle with the Taliban in which SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson won the Victoria Cross.

She was with her handler when their combined Australian, US and Afghan National Army convoy was ambushed.

Nine Australian soldiers, including her handler, were wounded.

The Special Operations Task Group made repeated attempts to find her in the desolate south of Afghanistan.

She has been reunited with her trainer at the Australian base, and met Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who has just made a surprise visit to Afghanistan.

She also met US General Stanley McChrystal, who was with Mr Rudd.