Neville
10-15-08, 03:03
Taking a valued buddy away from soldiers who have served their country so well is something everybody should protest against. Please read
the stories on the Operation Baghdad Pups (http://www.baghdadpups.com) website. It becomes very clear how important these pets
are to the soldiers.
Commanding officers ordered the confiscation of a dog, Ratchet, befriended by a group of soldiers during a 15th month of deployment. Ratchet has been a lifeline to Sgt. Gwen Beberg. This morning, Ratchet was on his way to SPCA International rescue experts at the Baghdad Airport to be flown home to Gwen's parents in Minneapolis, MN when Sgt. Beberg's commanding officers ordered Ratchet confiscated and held in Iraq to face certain death.
This year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen. Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline, explains Sgt. Beberg's mother, Patricia Beberg. Gwen Beberg, a decorated soldier, has been held by the military more than 15 months past her original commitment due to the stop-loss policy and now the military that asked extraordinary sacrifice from her has crushed her by ripping her lifeline away.
Now, Sgt. Beberg is under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life. It is against military regulations for active duty troops to befriend animals - Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Operation Baghdad Pups (http://www.baghdadpups.com) is a SPCA International program created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for the animals our U.S. soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East.
Petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet)
Call or email: Tell these elected officials to make the military release Ratchet to SPCA International for safe travel to the US:
Senator Klobuchar
http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm
Senator Norm Coleman
http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices
Congressman Keith Ellison
http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45
Some pics and success stories:
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/Taji_Profile_286_1_1_4562.gif
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/Aribi_Profile_298_1_1_8491.gif
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/kid_150_1_1_7540.jpg
Name: Beatrice
Breed: Mixed
Beatrice lived on a camp in Baghdad with a company of soldiers who befriended her. Beatrice brought them piece of mind and comfort during their long days. They loved to play with her. Beatrice helped them by being a furry friend through good times and bad. That’s when they soldiers contacted SPCA International. They couldn’t leave Beatrice behind because she was family now. SPCA International added her to their growing list of Operation Baghdad Pups animals that needed to be rescued from Iraq before summer.
One day, while enjoying some downtime in the common living room, a couple soldiers heard an unusual noise. They had no idea what it was, but it seemed to be coming from behind a piece of furniture. The soldiers looked and there was Beatrice giving birth to 5 puppies. They had been totally unaware of her pregnancy. Immediately, they pulled the furniture out from the wall and they helped her bring the puppies into the world. Beatrice had 3 boys: Aribi, Hause and Chewy and 2 girls: Taji and Rocky.
The soldiers loved the distraction of the newborns and so did many the other troops that came to visit. The company built them a pen out of plywood and the puppies quickly became a local attraction for nearby units. Of course the soldiers refused to leave the puppies behind, so they worked out who would adopt each puppy and contacted SPCA International to explain the new situation.
On June 1st 2008, the soldiers dropped Beatrice and the puppies off at Baghdad airport where SPCA International staff, Terri Crisp, and volunteer Bev Westerman where waiting to escort them home with 20 other soldiers’ companion animals. They all arrived at Newark International on June 5th, 2008. Beatrice and the puppies will be living with the soldiers’ families until they return from duty. Their new homes are spread out across the country: Beatrice will be in Texas, Rocky and Aribi in Colorado, Taji in Missouri, Hause in California and Chewy is going to Virginia.
One soldier explains, “It is important to all of us that Beatrice and the pups have a good life. She has had it rough and since being with us. Iraq is not an easy place for a dog. Now, they all can enjoy life as good dogs should.”
------------------------------
#
Name: Ralphie
Breed: Mixed
Ralphie was found by a soldier, Bobby, while out on a mission. He rescued him from a group of children who were kicking and throwing him like a ball. Bobby was able to get him from the children by trading him for some bottled water and Gatorade. Bobby brought Ralphie home for about a week, when they found out they could not keep him at their FOB. This is when Bobby brought Ralphie to his friend, Courtney, to care for.
The first few nights with Courtney, Ralphie would cry if he were left alone for any amount of time. But he quickly learned that she would not abandon him, but would be sure he got fed, played with and lots of loving attention. He was quickly housebroken and is learning a few basic commands. “He is learning to be just a regular American dog,” says Courtney.
Ralphie has been a great moral booster for the soldiers. He helps them to focus on things other than what they have to be concerned with everyday while living in a war zone. When soldiers from other FOBs come to visit, they immediately look for Ralphie. He’s gets a lot of attention, and in return he’s a great stress reliever for those who visit with him.
As the circle continues, Ralphie will be living with Bobby’s mother now that he’s landed on American soil, until Courtney completes her tour.
-------------------------------------------
Name: Thor
Breed: German Shepherd Mix
Thor was befriended in January, 2008, by a unit serving at a Combat Outpost (COP) north of Baghdad. He arrived one day young, malnourished and flea ridden, but he took to the soldiers quickly and they took to him. The soldiers started Thor on a regular diet and as time went by he began gaining weight and looking more healthy.
Thor was named for Thor, the Norse and Gernamic God of Thunder who has a ferocious appearance, but is regularly portrayed as a protector of humans against the forces of evil. “The Vikings” is also the nickname of the unit Thor befriended, which helped draw them to his name.
The COP Thor found also had a lot of other stray dogs around, so as Thor gained weight he began to get more active and play with the other dogs. Thor had a great community of soldiers and friends. Soon enough, he even started joining the soldiers on patrol. He was a nice change of pace to daily life in the war zone.
Ted, the soldier who will be adopting Thor in the United States, explained, “Thor increases our morale mostly because he has a great disposition; friendly and playful. After a difficult patrol we can sit and relax, watching Thor play with the other dogs at the COP, laughing at their antics; all of which helps relieve our stress.”
Ted continued, “I think it's great that Thor has an opportunity to go home with me and the soldiers. He has been a part of the unit here and a part of the many memories of our whole experience in combat. We will appreciate being able to maintain contact with Thor since we all spent so much time with him in Iraq.”
the stories on the Operation Baghdad Pups (http://www.baghdadpups.com) website. It becomes very clear how important these pets
are to the soldiers.
Commanding officers ordered the confiscation of a dog, Ratchet, befriended by a group of soldiers during a 15th month of deployment. Ratchet has been a lifeline to Sgt. Gwen Beberg. This morning, Ratchet was on his way to SPCA International rescue experts at the Baghdad Airport to be flown home to Gwen's parents in Minneapolis, MN when Sgt. Beberg's commanding officers ordered Ratchet confiscated and held in Iraq to face certain death.
This year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen. Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline, explains Sgt. Beberg's mother, Patricia Beberg. Gwen Beberg, a decorated soldier, has been held by the military more than 15 months past her original commitment due to the stop-loss policy and now the military that asked extraordinary sacrifice from her has crushed her by ripping her lifeline away.
Now, Sgt. Beberg is under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life. It is against military regulations for active duty troops to befriend animals - Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Operation Baghdad Pups (http://www.baghdadpups.com) is a SPCA International program created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for the animals our U.S. soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East.
Petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet)
Call or email: Tell these elected officials to make the military release Ratchet to SPCA International for safe travel to the US:
Senator Klobuchar
http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm
Senator Norm Coleman
http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices
Congressman Keith Ellison
http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45
Some pics and success stories:
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/Taji_Profile_286_1_1_4562.gif
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/Aribi_Profile_298_1_1_8491.gif
http://www.baghdadpups.com/content/images/kid_150_1_1_7540.jpg
Name: Beatrice
Breed: Mixed
Beatrice lived on a camp in Baghdad with a company of soldiers who befriended her. Beatrice brought them piece of mind and comfort during their long days. They loved to play with her. Beatrice helped them by being a furry friend through good times and bad. That’s when they soldiers contacted SPCA International. They couldn’t leave Beatrice behind because she was family now. SPCA International added her to their growing list of Operation Baghdad Pups animals that needed to be rescued from Iraq before summer.
One day, while enjoying some downtime in the common living room, a couple soldiers heard an unusual noise. They had no idea what it was, but it seemed to be coming from behind a piece of furniture. The soldiers looked and there was Beatrice giving birth to 5 puppies. They had been totally unaware of her pregnancy. Immediately, they pulled the furniture out from the wall and they helped her bring the puppies into the world. Beatrice had 3 boys: Aribi, Hause and Chewy and 2 girls: Taji and Rocky.
The soldiers loved the distraction of the newborns and so did many the other troops that came to visit. The company built them a pen out of plywood and the puppies quickly became a local attraction for nearby units. Of course the soldiers refused to leave the puppies behind, so they worked out who would adopt each puppy and contacted SPCA International to explain the new situation.
On June 1st 2008, the soldiers dropped Beatrice and the puppies off at Baghdad airport where SPCA International staff, Terri Crisp, and volunteer Bev Westerman where waiting to escort them home with 20 other soldiers’ companion animals. They all arrived at Newark International on June 5th, 2008. Beatrice and the puppies will be living with the soldiers’ families until they return from duty. Their new homes are spread out across the country: Beatrice will be in Texas, Rocky and Aribi in Colorado, Taji in Missouri, Hause in California and Chewy is going to Virginia.
One soldier explains, “It is important to all of us that Beatrice and the pups have a good life. She has had it rough and since being with us. Iraq is not an easy place for a dog. Now, they all can enjoy life as good dogs should.”
------------------------------
#
Name: Ralphie
Breed: Mixed
Ralphie was found by a soldier, Bobby, while out on a mission. He rescued him from a group of children who were kicking and throwing him like a ball. Bobby was able to get him from the children by trading him for some bottled water and Gatorade. Bobby brought Ralphie home for about a week, when they found out they could not keep him at their FOB. This is when Bobby brought Ralphie to his friend, Courtney, to care for.
The first few nights with Courtney, Ralphie would cry if he were left alone for any amount of time. But he quickly learned that she would not abandon him, but would be sure he got fed, played with and lots of loving attention. He was quickly housebroken and is learning a few basic commands. “He is learning to be just a regular American dog,” says Courtney.
Ralphie has been a great moral booster for the soldiers. He helps them to focus on things other than what they have to be concerned with everyday while living in a war zone. When soldiers from other FOBs come to visit, they immediately look for Ralphie. He’s gets a lot of attention, and in return he’s a great stress reliever for those who visit with him.
As the circle continues, Ralphie will be living with Bobby’s mother now that he’s landed on American soil, until Courtney completes her tour.
-------------------------------------------
Name: Thor
Breed: German Shepherd Mix
Thor was befriended in January, 2008, by a unit serving at a Combat Outpost (COP) north of Baghdad. He arrived one day young, malnourished and flea ridden, but he took to the soldiers quickly and they took to him. The soldiers started Thor on a regular diet and as time went by he began gaining weight and looking more healthy.
Thor was named for Thor, the Norse and Gernamic God of Thunder who has a ferocious appearance, but is regularly portrayed as a protector of humans against the forces of evil. “The Vikings” is also the nickname of the unit Thor befriended, which helped draw them to his name.
The COP Thor found also had a lot of other stray dogs around, so as Thor gained weight he began to get more active and play with the other dogs. Thor had a great community of soldiers and friends. Soon enough, he even started joining the soldiers on patrol. He was a nice change of pace to daily life in the war zone.
Ted, the soldier who will be adopting Thor in the United States, explained, “Thor increases our morale mostly because he has a great disposition; friendly and playful. After a difficult patrol we can sit and relax, watching Thor play with the other dogs at the COP, laughing at their antics; all of which helps relieve our stress.”
Ted continued, “I think it's great that Thor has an opportunity to go home with me and the soldiers. He has been a part of the unit here and a part of the many memories of our whole experience in combat. We will appreciate being able to maintain contact with Thor since we all spent so much time with him in Iraq.”