An Australian sniffer dog that went missing after an intense battle with insurgents in Afghanistan almost 14 months ago has been found alive and well.

Black lab Sabi, trained to seach for roadside bombs for Australia’s Special Forces, seemed unharmed after she was returned by an unidentified Afghan man.

Sabi’s trainer said it was “just incredible” to have her back.

“I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It’s a game we used to play over and over during her training,” he said.

Sabi went missing in September 2008 after militants ambushed Australian, US and Afghan forces in the war-torn Uruzgan province of southern Afghanistan.  Nine people were wounded in the firefight, including her handler.

In January, SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour and extreme courage beyond that normally expected of a British or Commonwealth soldier, for rescuing a wounded interpreter while under heavy machine-gun fire during the battle.

“She’s the last piece of the puzzle,” said Mr Donaldson, the first Australian soldier in 40 years to receive the medal.

“Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It’s a fantastic morale-booster for the guys.”

The labrador was handed over to a US soldier at a remote patrol base in northeastern Uruzgan last week, before being returned to Ozzie troops.

She is now set to undergo quarantine and medical tests before returning to Australia.

Bark to the Telegraph.

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