AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ An overseas tour of duty has ended for a once-malnourished dog lovingly nurtured by Texas troops in Afghanistan.
The now-65-pound mixed breed dog named “Delilah” on Tuesday spent her first full day in Austin.
The white puppy in June began tagging along with National Guard troops from Camp Mabry while members were on patrol.
Spc. Matt Fleming of Austin says from the start the dog was “pretty cute walking beside us” and he wanted to keep Delilah.
His sister-in-law, Laura Fleming of Austin, set up a Web site and helped raise money to fly the dog to the U.S. About $3,500 was donated by October.
The Austin American-Statesman reports Delilah arrived in Austin on Monday afternoon. Delilah will live with Laura Fleming until her brother-in-law completes his tour of duty in January and returns home.