Persian Dog Names

The name Sarbi means confident, trusting and loyal in the Persian language and that describes this Newfoundland Black Labrador mixed pooch. This furific war dog was once a homeless mutt living in a shelter until the Australian Defense Force chose her to serve as an EDD (Explosive Detection Dog) with the SOER (Special Operations Engineers Regiment). Sarbi was immediately put to action and served many tours in Afghanistan.

In September of 2008, on one of these tours to Afghanistan, Sarbi and her convoy were attacked by insurgents and her handler, Corporal David Simpson, was injured, and Sarbi disappeared and was considered MIA (missing in action). Amazingly, 14 months later, Sarbi was spotted by a United States soldier and brought back to Tarin Kot, where her troops were. She had been living with an Afghan family for the past year. Although she had to be quarantined for six months in Dubai after she was returned, she was reunited with Simpson right after. 

Sarbi was given the highest military honor that a dog can receive, the RSPCA Purple Cross Award for her exceptional service to humans, courage, and strength. She was only the second animal to get the Purple Cross Award, and the first one went to the famous Gallipoli donkey of John Simpson Kirkpatrick, Murphy. During her time with the SOER, she also received two other awards, the Canine Service Medal, and the War Dog Operation Medal. 

In fact, there is even a dog park named after the furific Sarbi in Brisbane with a sculpture of her that “guards” the park. Sarbi Dog Park is located in Queensland, where the Defense Housing Australia’s Warner Lakes the Reserve is located. In 2010, Sarbi and her handler decided to take their retirement, and she went to live with Simpson and his family back in Australia. She lived a happy life and truly enjoyed what she did both on and off the field. 

Sarbi was a retriever fur sure, and even after retirement, Simpson says he and his wife were kept busy continuously playing fetch with anything Sarbi brought them. She became sick in 2014 with a brain tumor and fought the good fight, but unfortunately, Sarbi passed away in 2015. She was preserved by a taxidermist and placed in an exhibit in the AWM (Australian War Memorial). Sarbi died a true hero and will live on through her social media pages, her life-size statue and park, and the exhibit at the AWM, as well as in the hearts of those who knew her.