No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid

Written by Will Chesney and Joe Layden

Narrated by Will Chesney

No Ordinary Dog is the powerful true story of a SEAL Team Operator and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life.

This program is read by the author.

Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo's story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Operator whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's.

Starting in 2008, when Will was introduced to the DEVGRU canine program, he and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. But their bond transcended their service. Then, in 2011, the call came: Pick up your dog and get back to Virginia. Now.

What followed were several weeks of training for a secret mission. It soon became clear that this was no ordinary operation. Cairo was among the first members of the U.S. military on the ground in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the successful elimination of bin Laden.

As Cairo settled into a role as a reliable “spare dog,” Will went back to his job as a DEVGRU operator, until a grenade blast in 2013 left him with a brain injury and PTSD. Unable to participate in further missions, he suffered from crippling migraines, chronic pain, memory issues, and depression. Modern medicine provided only modest relief. Instead, it was up to Cairo to save Will's life once more—and then up to Will to be there when Cairo needed him the most.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Apr 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781250240019

Will Chesney

WILL CHESNEY served in the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group as an operator and dog handler. He participated in Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Chesney received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, and now helps veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injury.

Reviews for No Ordinary Dog

[Dan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring and entertaining story. Very compelling book, well done. .

[Paco Bear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best book I’ve read about SOF. Beautiful relationship between a working military dog and his handler. Of course I am a dog person so that might tint my glasses.

[Debra Nix · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you and Ciro for serving our country. The best book i have ever read. God bless you.

[john · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was absolutely fabulous!!
Thank you for this

[Jessica Tessier · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was the most heart felt book I’ve ever read. I could t stop listening to it. It made me cry so hard. I’ve lost many dogs but there is always that one that leaves an imprint on your heart, mine was a German Shepherd named Bailey. He too died from digestive problems. He was so weak in the end they had to put him down in the back of my Toyota 4-runner. I still drive that suv and I can still see him there. Cairo seemed like that dog for you. God bless you and thank you your service. Thank you for sharing your story. I did not want it to end. I’m glad you finally got help for your brain injuries. I suffer from migraines as well. It’s truly horrible. I pray you and your family are well.
Thank you