A NOSE for trouble has led this dogged trooper from life in a cage to dodging death on Afghanistan's front lines.
Military "operational reasons" have cast a pall of secrecy over Bundy's early life. But close to three years ago, the labrador-staffordshire cross was rescued from an uncertain future in a pound, somewhere in Australia.
The military put him to work, training him to detect explosives.
Now, with his handler Sapper David Brown, he's putting his life on the line for his country, sharing responsibility for keeping a team of engineers alive.
The three-year-old is certified to sniff out everything from the Taliban's weapon of choice, improvised roadside bombs, to armaments caches.
"The dog and myself will be sent forward to clear the road and look for explosives," Spr Brown said. If Bundy senses something, "we get out of harm's way and let the other boys do their job."
Spr Brown, who completed his own training two years ago, has to be entirely in tune with Bundy to know when he's found something.
"He will indicate, or his tail will start to wag a bit faster. And I will call him back before he goes too far," he said.
"He's wagging his tail because he's shown interest in something. It's all part of a game for him.
"He comes back, and he gets all excited because he gets to play with me," Spr Brown said.
"He's had a couple of finds over here. He's very keen to work."
And Bundy loves nothing more than cooling down after a day spent in what is often a climatic as well as a military hot zone.
"Whenever he's near water, he loves to jump in it and cool down," Spr Brown said. "He jumps in puddles and he will sit there and lie down in it and look back at me."
After 12 months together Bundy and Spr Brown, of Footscray - who's on his first tour of Afghanistan - share quite a bond.
"He responds quite quickly to my verbal commands, or if he's looking at me I can use hand commands," Spr Brown said.
And the duo are also a hit with their comrades in the reconstruction task force operating out of Tarin Kowt, in the south.
"The boys love to pat him. Whenever we're back in base, he gets lots of pats," Spr Brown said.
"Whenever we go anywhere, it's always: 'Hello, Bundy. How you going, mate?"' he said.
"It's never Brownie."
Comments:
Bundy was rescued from a pound somewhere in Australia and sent to the frontline of Afghanistan to serve for his country. He is a very smart dog in fact. He is trained to sniff out almost everything from Taliban's weapons, improvised roadside bombs, to armaments caches. He is also an obedient dog because according to his handler Sapper David Brown, Bundy responds quite quickly to his verbal commands and if he is looking for him, he can even use hand commands. Sapper David and Bundy also make a hit with their comrades.
However, is Bundy lucky or unlucky to be found and put into work in the frontline, facing dodging death everyday? Bundy is trained to discover weapons, bombs and when he finds something he will wag his tail showing his excitement and indicating the other comrades. Yet he doesn't know what he has just found may kill him one day!
I sympathise with Bundy because in the pound he can only wait for an uncertain future. If he is fortunate, he might be sent to a farm in which his life might be much better and safer than now he is or sent to a rich man's house as a pet as which he might have a comfortable and luxurious life.But if he is unfortunate, he might be slaughtered and served as a delicious meal for those who find eating dog's meat as their cup of tea. And, now he is putting his own life to contribute for the country. This may be better as at least he is serving for his country but may be even worse as he might be killed before he ever know.
Sign, what a pitiful life. If you were Bundy which life will you choose, staying in the pound for unknown future or risking its life in the battlefield? In short we should treasure our lives because we at least have a choice for our future, deciding our own path, unlike Bundy who can only lead a pathetic and unfair life. Hence, starting from this moment onwards, everyone please don't cry for your bad luck anymore. Take it as a test and you'll find tomorrow better.
