KPBS Midday Edition

Injured San Diego Marine Dog Handler Reunited With Canine Friend

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Peggy Pico / KPBS Evening Edition Host, Emily Burns / Assistant Producer

Published June 17, 2014 at 8:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

The June cover of National Geographic magazine features Layka, who was shot by enemy forces and took four rounds from an AK-47 while helping to clear an enemy compound in Afghanistan.

Injured San Diego Marine Dog Handler Reunited With Canine Friend

San Diego Veteran Adopts Dog He Worked With In Afghanistan GUESTS: Jose Armenta, retired Marine Corps dog handler

Jose Armenta was serving as a Marine dog handler in Afghanistan in 2011 when while searching for IEDs with his dog, Zenit, one exploded. Armenta was severely wounded. He later had to have both legs amputated above the knee. Zenit was uninjured.

Armenta and Zenit’s story is featured in the June issue of National Geographic. Armenta also told their story to Terry Gross on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air.

PHOTO GALLERY: Images from the June issue of National Geographic magazine

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After Armenta was injured, Zenit was reassigned to another handler per military protocol. Armenta told National Geographic:

“I was furious,” Jose says. “And jealous. I never blamed Zenit for what happened. We were a team. If it was anyone’s fault, it was my own. I just wanted my dog."

Armenta, now a San Diego resident, was able to adopt Zenit in 2012 after a months-long process.

Go here to read the National Geographic story, "The Dogs of War."

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Peggy Pico

Peggy Pico served as the host of KPBS Evening Edition. Pico originally joined the KPBS newsroom as the science and technology reporter in 2010 after spending two years covering biotechnology and medical news in the Bay Area. Pico was raised in San Diego and has worked as a broadcast journalist in California, Arizona, and Texas. She previously reported for NBC 7/39 where she worked as a medical and science reporter for five years. Pico has won two Emmy’s and numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Press, and the San Diego Press Club. She also received the USC Health Reporter Fellowship and is a member of California Chicano News Media Association and the Association of Health Care Journalists.

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Emily Burns

Emily Burns is a Gloria Penner Political Fellow, assisting in coverage of news, politics and policy for KPBS Evening Edition and KPBS Midday Edition. Emily graduated from SDSU with a bachelor's degree in journalism. During her studies, she focused most of her projects on public safety. While attending SDSU, Emily served KPBS as a production assistant. She also interned with San Diego Magazine. A San Diego native, Emily spent time in Washington, D.C. while completing undergraduate coursework. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, watching crime and legal dramas, and trying new restaurants.

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