Injured Iraq war vet receives service dog

• Marcus and Blade

Marcus Kuboy and Blade have been working for several months with trainers at American Assistance Dogs to prepare the pair for Blade to live with Kuboy full-time in his Woodbury home.

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It’s been almost a year since Marcus Kuboy moved into his new home in the Stonemill Farms neighborhood of Woodbury.

The last several months have brought a lot of changes to the Army National Guard veteran who began running again for the first time since he was severely injured more than two years ago when his humvee hit an IED bomb while he was on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq.

As a result of the injuries, Kuboy has endured many surgeries on his back and legs, eight in just the first nine months of his recovery, much of them performed during a four-month stay at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C.

But Woodbury is a long way from Walter Reed. And although Kuboy was on crutches again last week as he recovers from another surgery on his legs, he looks at his most recent surgery as a temporary setback before he begins college this fall.

“Overall, my recovery has been amazing,” said Kuboy, whose house was adapted for his physical needs as he continues his recovery. Purchase and construction of the home was organized last year by Homes for Our Troops, a national non-profit organization. “I’ve just been surrounded with positive opportunities to make the most of my recovery, I’m maximizing my potential.”

Another opportunity that has found Kuboy’s way as of late comes in the form of four legs and a wagging tail.

Last week Kuboy officially received Blade, a 2.5-year-old golden retriever who was donated to him by American Assistance Dogs, a service dog training organization based in Jordan.

At an official ceremony open to media Thursday, Aug. 13, members from American Assistance Dogs and the family that helped raise Blade for the first year of his life were on hand with Kuboy to sign the official adoption papers.

Although the event signified the official transition of Blade from the Ling family to Kuboy, all parties involved have been working for this moment for the last two years, said Nancy Murray, co-founder of American Assistance Dogs.

More on this story is available in the Wednesday, Aug. 19 print edition of the Woodbury Bulletin.

Tags: local news, marcus kuboy, american assistance dogs, woodbury