A 15-year-old black Labrador who served three tours in Afghanistan and saved countless Marines is being denied a military burial at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

His handler – Cpl. Nicolas Caceres – said most military dogs don’t make it past the age of 10.

“He deployed with my unit that was based out of here," Caceres said. "He's part of the company that’s from here so what I’m trying to do is get him buried here at our local veteran's cemetery."

John Kelley, deputy director for the Texas State Veterans Cemetery Program, said there are no provisions for the burial of animals in national cemeteries.

“They’re saying, ‘No service animals,’" Caceres said. "Well, he’s not a service animal. He's a combat vet. He was there with me every day that I was there. I have all the rights to get buried there, and I believe with everything he's done, he should have the same right, too.”

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