Animal shelter worker sacked for putting down war-hero dog

A WORKER at a US animal shelter who put down a war-hero dog that was not meant to be destroyed has been fired.

The employee in Casa Grande, Pinal County, Arizona, destroyed the mongrel bitch by mistake last week. His sacking was announced yesterday.

The dog, named Target, was taken to Arizona by Sergeant Terry Young after his tour of duty in Afghanistan. He said the animal had been praised for thwarting an attack by a suicide bomber. But she escaped from Sgt Young's backyard. Sgt Young later found Target's picture on a website used to help owners track lost pets. He arrived at the shelter only to find her dead.