Oh, what a wonderful story!  I'm so glad these dogs that were nurtured by a hero were sent home to live with his family.  I know it's hard for the family, but indeed they were obviously a special part of this soldier's life.  God Bless this family!

At least there's one good news story from Bagdad. One's pets are an extension of one's self.

"It’s great feeling that these Iraqi dogs will be safe and loved. True it was hard, but now I am feeling a lot more brave and willing to help anyone." hahaha This is the love of Americans? You have more love for Dogs then Humans, why can't you help the 4 Million Refugees which you made throught Murder, Rape and Bombings in Iraq and get out of their country? We can give you all the Iraqi Dogs you want so you can sleep with them if you like, All that we ask for you is to get out of our country.

Great story...It is good tobe reminded that even in the midst of war we can find love...Sgt Neesly's family will always have that link of love through Mama and Boris...what a precious gift.  

I get the story.  But we can bring the dogs to the US but we can't get the troops home, unless it's in a coffin.  

Thank you for the good stuff.  Amen

i THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL THING THESE FAMILIES HAVE DONE BY BRING THESE DOGS HOME.  THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DIED FRON STARVATION IF THEY HADN'T BEEN SENT TO THE U.S.  I AM SO SORRY FOR THEIR LOSS BUT IF HE COULD SPEAK I KNOW HE WOULD SAY "THANK YOU".

The Media should give equal time to the positive stories coming from Iraq, as well the negative. Lets have a balance

How WONDERFUL, GREAT JOB!!!!!

What a heartwarming story indeed.  A soldier over in Iraq finding a bit of home in the canine form.  I love that his parents fought to get the dogs to the US and that they respected what mattered to Peter.  Fantabulous!

What a heartwarming story indeed.  A soldier over in Iraq finding a bit of home in the canine form.  I love that his parents fought to get the dogs to the US and that they respected what mattered to Peter.  Fantabulous!

Being a former soldier and also a spouse of a soldier in Iraq, I know how painful it can be.  Although I have never lost a loved one to this war I do know the pain of waiting for your loved one to return... I think it is an amazing thing that these people did for this family... even though nothing will bring their soldier back at least they will have a part of him there with them now... I pray for the family that they will overcome their loss and that these dogs will provide them with some comfort.

We need more stories like this instead of all the death and destruction you see in the news everyday and all day. Thank you for writing it.

I wish that we all could be like that, loving and caring.

Love knows no boundaries is certainly shown in this story of a soldier, his adoptive dogs and the courage of an Iraqi vet, and the family who who wanted them to "come home" to the United States.

It was sad the soldier died but I am glad the dogs he loved were given new homes. It goes to show some people have heart and care about things.

my hat is off to the vet who stepped up and gave these animals a chance for a better life with the family of the soldier, i'm  sure the soldier is happy now his  beloved animals are being well cared for and he can rest in peace now.

The soldiers in Iraq are brave and loyal to their country and their people admire them. We know they miss their families, and their families miss them! These two dogs no doubt filled a void in this soldiers heart with love and a sense of family. God Bless him for having a soft heart for these two dogs, and bless his family for adopting them after his death!  I know if he could he would hug his family and give them a big "Thank you."  
War is sad, but sometimes there is a little love and caring that shines through and it is heart-warming to witness.  

What a warm and compassionate story from out of this absolute waste of human life and funds over there... If our two countries would only devote half the effort to resolve these absurb problems, then maybe we could "all get along together"...Bless all those people involved on both sides.  

Sgt Neesley is another American Hero and it is so fitting his family was able to bring his canine friends home to a loving family!!
To Salem in Kirkuk-I have never heard a story of Americans strapping bombs to women and children and cowardly detonating them remotely.War sucks,but the barbaric actions of Al Queda pale to the humanity of most of this world.

As a dog owner and lover it's always great to hear a touching story.  They say "something good comes out of something bad", and so it is in this instance.  thanks for reporting the story.

Dear John,
You were so wonderful to start this story and be a main part in getting our families story out there. We can never say thank you enough to you. Your follow up story was wonderful! You are a great man. Thank you to Best Friends. Rich Crook from Best Friends made all of this happen. Thank you to Senator Carl Levin. You all made a miracle happen for our family.

It’s great feeling that these Iraqi dogs will be safe and loved. True it was hard, but now I am feeling a lot more brave and willing to help anyone." hahaha This is the love of Americans? You have more love for Dogs then Humans, why can't you help the 4 Million Refugees which you made throught Murder, Rape and Bombings in Iraq and get out of their country? We can give you all the Iraqi Dogs you want so you can sleep with them if you like, All that we ask for you is to get out of our country.
Salem, Kirkuk, Iraq  
TO SALEM, KIRKUK, IRAQ:
Ayman Murrani- IS THE "BAGHDAD" VET MADE THAT STATEMENT, NOT AN AMERICAN, GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT.

This would have been a much more moving story if the dogs were replaced by a couple of the homeless kids in Iraq. Seems like dogs are the new American love affair, more valued than other people.

This was a very moving and positive story.  A living bridge formed by three acts of kindness.  I wish we had news stories like this everyday... except for the part where the original good guy dies...

Salem---I think you need to rethink your comments...Remember how this war started...True, there are Americans who love dogs, but we love people also...We have thousands of soldiers who have died, and thousands more wounded...If you feel we need to get out, then have your military take charge and let us leave...My son was stationed there and served for 15 months protecting your country...The Iraqi military followed them...Step up to the plate and be a leader.   Saving animals may be small to you, but they are still a life!!!!!  I hope this soldiers family can feel some of the love that Peter had for these dogs...God bless them and God Bless America...

NO Dog left behind! FUUcking right! Kill what we can, bring home our injured, our dead and any remains. You know how we do it in the United states. FUUCK IRAQ, Think about it, it's not even a good enough place to have dogs. It took amearican to help out with even animals.  Glad you posted this... instead of always something awful that happened and we choose to do nothing about continiously. This is also c proud Family story of people doing the right thing and helping out when they need to. Animals are real too.

Kudos to Best Friends and U.S. Senator Carl Levin of Michigan who helped make this possible. For more information, read Best Friends Latest News at BestFriends.org  

There is no choise between dogs  pets and people in this world. A nation is judged upon its compassion for ALL. Young old animals veterans refugees. The implication that we should choose is false.
They are living creatures and they know fear and pain and joy. This is all we need to know.
Great I would really like to know why this young healthy trooper died. Young men usually do not "die in their sleep"???

BRAVO.

Isn't it more important to find out how a healthy young GI ends up dead in his sleep?

This is a great story about a Hero and his four legged companions.  Whether you are pro-war, anti-war, whatever, this still remains a great story.  My question is why do people feel compelled to paint it any other way?  There is no room in the piece for comments about bringing the troops home, or how many refugees there are in Iraq, etc.  This story is about a man who loved his dogs and who is now gone, and how by the great effort of many people; military, civilian, American’s, and Iraqis this has come to pass.  Some of the comments here have no business being posted and should not have made it past the site moderator.  

Great story!  That said, if Salem wants to debate this offline … let me remove my Ambassadors hat and replace it with my Marine Corps Cover (hat to civilians).  You give us all your dogs to sleep with and we’ll give you all our Pig to breed with.  Bring it!

What a wonderful story. Peter would be very proud of the people who helped save his dogs and take them to his home in the States.

it is good to see something nice happening in a war zone.  At the same time America and it's other oil hungry countries need to get out of the country. The only differnce between the two sides is America uses more expensive ways of killing others.

I think that we spend so much time focusing on the bad things in life that we fail to recognize the good.  Although there are many people now against the war raging across the world, little stories like these give us hope that some day things will be better, both for Iraq and for the United States.  This isn't about the war, its about a man who fell in love with two animals and who wanted the best care for them.  His death was an unfortunate tragedy, but why is it impossible to appreciate the love that this story is really about?

Salem, I can assure you nothing would make me happier than to take all the animals out of your country and leave you to rot in your own filth. Unfortunately, God wants me to love you and try as I may, I read an idiotic comment like that and it pushes me beyond my human limits.

Salem, you have no love or respect for life. If you respect life, you respect ALL life. Dogs give humans unconditional love, even when we don't deserve it. They feel pain, just as humans do. We Americans have the capacity to feel compassion, love, and respect for all creatures great and small. That's what makes America so great.
Our soldiers are risking & losing their lives trying to help your country, and believe me, most Americans would gladly have them leave.  
May God bless the Neesley family.

 Salem, just out of curiosity, are you a Taliban supporter???! Just wondering, because you have not placed the blame where it needs to be placed! You need to take a history class and realize who really started this war!! Not all Iraqis think like you do either! I just happened to be a proud Muslim, and and supporter of All things GOOD about Islam! Allah (SWT) created ALL things on earth including animals!
    I do know that in Islam  a cat or (halal) animal holds much more respect in the animal kingdom, and dogs are thought to be rather dirty, but they are living creatures with hearts, souls, and feelings!
    Sometimes in war the only true companionship which will show no judgment, undying strength, and true loyalty to a person is their pet (no metter what kind of creature it is). In this case dogs serve for the army in just a valuable position as humans! And unless you are an extremist yourself (which you've definitely made yourself sound like), you would realize that not everyone in the world shares the religion of Islam, nor hold the same opinions towards dogs!
     I don't have any dogs in my house, and wouldn't. I do have four cats though. Whenever my spouse and I see dogs (our neighbor has two) we show them just as much respect and care! An animal can be the most important person in a lonely and/or lost person's life! They will love you no matter what!
     For the Iraqi vet whom braved the possiblity of consequences to help bring a part of this soldier home that held so much love and joy is very refreshing! People like him are the TRUE ambassadors of Islam! Not those who run around shooting all of those who refuse to convert to Islam! Allah will punish those who kill innocents! It is not the right of ANY human to punish someone who refuses Islam. The right of giving and taking life is reserved for Allah alone!
     Yes you could make the argument that American's are responsible for killing as well. Yet if you took a look at why they are fighting you would hold your tounge! They are defending the rest of the world from the terrorism that is blatantly rampant over there!
    To ALL of the casualties of war, the innocent men, women, children, soldiers, and animals of all species who have died in the name of good, peace, and brotherhood, may Allah bless you and grant you paradise in his kingdom!

Refreshing to know that we finally got it right. In Vietnam, after the war, despite their unselfish bravery and loyalty, we left our valiant dog corps behind and most of them ended up horribly. I am glad to know that all life counts...human and otherwise. Salem....Americans would be happy to leave your god foresaken country...if only Iraqi's of all sectarian faiths, ethnicities would learn to live together to build a better Iraq....one that doesn't require America (or her Allies) to come and clean it up every 10-15 years.  Americans have better things to do with our lives and treasure than to help ingrates like you, your family, friends and other idiots like you. We do it because we believe in a greater good (despite our better judgement), a concept you know nothing about. If you think sucking on VX nerve gas and napalm bombing by Saddam and his goons, or being part of the Al-Qaida Rag-Heads or a life under an Islamic Theocracy is a "blessed" life....you are welcome to it. But, before you stick your foot in your mouth again, you may want to speak to the Afghani folks who lived under those Taliban nitwits and nincompoops. I am sure they have a very different opinion.

I'm sorry did I miss something?
Was Peter Neesley a solder in a combat zone?
Sure the story is heartwarming for the love of dogs
but what about Peter Neesley?
Why would his death be 'non-combat' related?
Somebody please explain?

What a heartwarming story. I am a dog lover and own a very spoiled poodle. Peter's family will have something to love that he loved and took care of.

To SALEM, Sounds like you need a lessson in humanity, or just plain love. Were there so you might learn a little of this,and spread it around. But theres and old saying,you can't teach a old  horse new tricks, not even JACK ASS's. But we try anyway.

It makes you stop and think what if we all looked threw the eyes of our loved one's and see what that see, and loved what they loved. Or even looking at it at another perceptive to really see the side that makes them smile. I know this solider is gone but, do we have to wait until someone is gone to go to the ends of the earth just to have something they loved? My prayers and respect goes to the families am very sorry for you loss; I can see you loved him very much.

This story is just beautiful.  As an animal activist, I am thrilled to hear all the people that risked a lot to bring those dogs home to be loved in their daddy's memory!!

It makes you stop and think what if we all looked threw the eyes of our loved one's and see what that see, and loved what they loved. Or even looking at it at another perceptive to really see the side that makes them smile. I know this solider is gone but, do we have to wait until someone is gone to go to the ends of the earth just to have something they loved? My prayers and respect goes to the families am very sorry for you loss; I can see you loved him very much.

Why is it that when anyone goes out of their way to save an animal, someone has to blab off their big mouth and say something like Jim did about not caring about children. Just because someone goes out of their way to help an animal doesn't mean they would not help a child. Why can't we care about every living thing, and help whenever and however we can?

This message is for Terrie Pawlyk:

As for the American's loving Dogs more...It's a human thing to do....We also help Humans...Why do you think were fighting in Iraq....And to say we should help 4 millions refugees...We the United States have helped every country for years!!!!

Maybe you should brush up on the United States history...obviously your very ignorant!!!

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):