To expand on the above post a little, ( I posted while at work and got a call while I was typing) it has long been a standing US Military order in theater to NOT "adopt" local strays as pets. Rabies is not the only problem. There are many locale specific parasites carried by these dogs and their fleas/ticks. Leshamiasis (sp?) is a parasitic skin disease carried in this manner, and is very difficult to treat, and removes soldiers from their duties for extended periods of time. Soldiers with this disease are medevaced to military hospitals in the US and Germany, taking resources away from soldiers who are wounded in combat.

The US Military has greatly reduced the rate of non combat illness in recent actions. Disease used to account for over 50% of casualties in theater, and reductions in disease vectors are one of the main reasons for the reductions in in hteater illness.