Army medic rescues hero Afghan dog who was due to be put to sleep after developing PTSD from its time sniffing out lethal Taliban weapons

• Angie McDonnell met Vidar, a Belgian Malinois, while serving in Helmand
• The two became firm friends as they worked together in the desert
• But after two tours of duty Vidar began exhibiting PTSD-style symptoms
• His eyesight also began to fail, leaving him at risk of being put down
• But Mrs McDonnell heard about her friend's blight and adopted him
  

By Kieran Corcoran

Published: 11:22 GMT, 7 April 2014 | Updated: 12:29 GMT, 7 April 2014

A female soldier who befriended a heroic bomb-hunting dog in Afghanistan tracked down her comrade and gave him a new home after he became too timid to serve on the front lines.

Angie McDonnell, 40, a reservist who served in war-torn Helmand province as a medic, became 'best friends' with four-year-old Vidar while the two were based at Camp Bastion.

But after they had served together, her canine friend - a Belgian Malinois - developed symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder and started to lose his sight - which left him at risk of being put down.

Best friends: Angie McDonnell served alongside four-year-old Vidar in Afghanistan

Returning the favour: Mrs McDonnell believes Vidar saved her life by sniffing out a cache of Taliban explosives - so she saved him from being put down

Vidar, a military sniffer dog, hunted down stashes of Taliban weaponry, and found a huge cache of guns and explosives on a routine patrol in April 2012.

Mrs McDonnell believes the haul of weapons - which was seized and defused by British weapons experts - was about to be used in an attack on her and her comrades, which was foiled by Vidar's skilful find.

The Army reservist, who works full-time as a paramedic, said: 'He saved my life so it’s only fair that I did what I could to save his.

'The dogs out there are heroes and I knew from the first moment I saw him that he was a one-in-a-million. He looked like he needed a cuddle so I went into his kennel and rubbed his belly.

'We became best friends out there and I was sad to leave him when I returned home.

'When I heard he had been retired after staring to get scared, I knew I had to track him down to help him.

'I would have done anything to make sure he had a loving home.'

At war: Mrs McDonnell served as a medic based at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province

'Perfect pet': Mrs McDonnell said she was worried Vidar would be overlooked for adoption in favour of cuter breeds of dog, so took him in herself

The pair were inseparable during their months of joint service, and would go on runs together and play in the dusty desert between their regular duties.

Vidar stayed in Afghanistan when Mrs McDonnell, who served with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers for a six-month tour.

But she later heard her canine friend was experiencing the PTSD-like symptoms after his second tour of duty.

She also heard that his eyes were failing, making it unlikely he would be able to return to his former heroic work.

Mrs McDonnell was eventually able to track Vidarn down to a training camp in Germany, from which she was able to arrange for her companion to be sent home. He now lives a happy retirement with her in Barry, South Wales.

Desert companions: Mrs McDonnell and Vidar are pictured above in the Afghan desert

Retirement: Vidar now lives happily with Mrs McDonnell is Barry, South Wales

Lively: Despite Vidar's vibrant personality, he has managed not to damage any furniture at home

She added: 'I had to find him after he had been such a hero in Afghanistan.

'The dogs out there do an amazing job, protecting the men and women serving their country from dangerous IEDs.

'They don’t have the fear factor so it broke my heart that after working so hard he had started to get scared.

'Really cute labradors and springer spaniels get rehomed easily but because he’s such a big dog I was worried no-one would want him and there was a chance he would get put down.

'I thought we’d have the house torn apart when we brought him home because he wasn’t used to living with a family but he’s not ripped anything up.

'He’s just the perfect dog and I’m so happy I can repay him for saving my life while we served together.'