Beloved Bomb-Sniffing Dog Who Retired To Live With Marine Handler Dies
December 27, 2012

Megan Leavey and Rex (credit: Facebook)

"NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) � Sergeant Rex has passed away.

The brave dog was wounded along with its handler Cpl. Megan Leavey in Iraq in 2006, where they spent two six-month tours together and completed more than 100 missions.

Leavey and Rex convalesced together until Leavey�s military commitment ended in 2008. She tried to adopt him, but the military still needed him.

�I�ve taken care of him. He�s taken care of me. It�s a bond you can�t break,� Leavey told CBS 2′s Emily Smith back in March.

She kept on trying to adopt him for years.
. . .
In 2012, Rex developed facial palsy, which prevented him from doing his bomb-sniffing tasks. He faced being put down if the adoption didn�t go through. Sen. Charles Schumer intervened, and ultimately Rex was allowed to live with Leavey.
. . .
On Dec. 22, the following was posted on a Facebook page for the book written about Sgt. Rex and Leavey:

�Military working dog Rex (E168) passed away this morning. He was 11 years old (April 2001-December 2012). Rest in peace Rex and thank you for your service and sacrifice. Once a Marine, Always a Marine� Semper Fi.�

Leavey posted the following on her Facebook page:

�I am so grateful for the last 8 months I got to spend with my partner & my best friend. Rex got to swim in a pool and play with my other dogs. He got to roam the yard & bark at deer, play with as many toys as he wanted all day everyday, sleep in a cozy bed next to me every night, chase and eventually make friends with my 2 cats, enjoy & play in his first snowfall�and so much other great stuff that he would have never had the chance to do if he was never retired. He knew I was with him the whole time and I laid next to him & held him & spoke to him & he was at peace in the end. He is now my guardian angel�even though he already was. So thank you to everyone who supported me & made it possible for me to spend those precious 8 months with my best friend. He was one hell of a dog, one tough ass Marine, and one very special soul.� "

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/27/b...e-handler-dies/