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Homeward Bound.
That is a neat story. Thanks for posting.
CHANTILLY, Va. AP) — A black puppy decked out in a red, white and blue bandanna jumped out of his crate and wagged his tail at the airport Monday, three flights and two days after leaving Iraq en route to his new home with a U.S. soldier.
Army Spc. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis says she couldn't have made it through her 13-month deployment without Ratchet, who she and another soldier rescued from a burning pile of trash in May. Ratchet, wearing a dog-bone-shaped collar with its name, will spend two nights in a kennel before flying to Minneapolis, where Beberg's parents will pick him up. Beberg is scheduled to return home next month.
"I'm very excited that Ratchet will be waiting for me when I get home from Iraq! Words can't describe it," Beberg said in an e-mail to friends and family. "I hope that Ratchet's story will inspire people to continue the efforts to bring more service members' animals home from Iraq and Afghanistan."
The dog was rescued by Baghdad Pups, run by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International. The group, which has now brought 63 animals to the U.S., says the effort both saves dogs and cats and helps soldiers who benefit from the bond with the animals.
The military bars troops from caring for pets on duty or taking them home, citing reasons such as health issues and difficulties in caring for the animals. The U.S. military has said the dog was free to leave but American troops could not be responsible for its transportation.
Baghdad Pups coordinator Terri Crisp, who brought the puppy back from Iraq, said animals adopted by soldiers help them get through difficult times.
"I hope Ratchet and his story will lead to some dialogue with the military," Crisp said as she stroked the puppy.
Ratchet flew on a charter flight to Kuwait, then flew commercial from Kuwait to Amsterdam and on to Washington. Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest Airlines picked up the cost of the last two legs.
Ratchet frolicked on a grassy patch outside the airport before heading off to Clocktower Animal Hospital in Herndon, Va., for a checkup and some shots.
"Your tail's wagging!" said Dr. Chris Carskaddan, the veterinarian, as he greeted the dog. "So cute."
Ratchet didn't bark at all, but let out a whimper during the shots. Afterward, Carskaddan declared the dog "extremely healthy."
(yahoo news)
Homeward Bound.
That is a neat story. Thanks for posting.
I'm sure the dog in now equipped with a tracking device and mini cam.
Last edited by BacktoBasics; 10-21-2008 at 12:25 PM.
You're welcome.Homeward Bound.
That is a neat story. Thanks for posting.
great just took away some poor Iraqi family's dinner
Here's a pic of Ratchet:
I wouldn't trust that Iraqi Dog of War for a second.
Just look at those eyes! He's a suicide puppy!!! I'll be he's got 5 sticks of dynamite in his belly and is just waiting for the right time to blow himself up.
Is that a guy or a girl in that pic
Now maybe the Bush haters will stop saying the war was not worth it after all.
My thoughts exactly.
Hard to tell. That pic doesn't give us a view of the hindquarters to see if there's a nutsack on the little fella.
I think it has a shot at the new American Gladiators, whatever gender.
Looks like a pitbull to me...
Only if it bites someone will it be considered a pitbull.
Stupid dog, Bring back one of the now dead soldiers and then make it a news story.
forgive me all you dog lovers out there....but this has to be one of the stupidist things I have heard about coming from this war...Its just re ed to me that they allowed this to happen...leave the dog where it was and drive on...there are more important issues going on then to have a dog shipped back to the states checked out by vet after vet...who the is paying for this to happen?
arent we in the middle of a crisis right now...well atleast now the in the reserves has a "war story" to tell when she gets older...which is more than I can say for a lot of men and woman that died out there and never got the coverage...the menatality of america has just gone stupid....we really think we can save the world dont we...I agree mouse the war that was declared over back in May 2003 is now a success...we have liberated the people...restored the date trees...stolen some oil and now rescued a
I dunno, a soldier gives up a year of their life in service to the country - whether I agree with the war or not, I have to side with the soldier getting her dog.
It is my understanding this, like several other soldier dog rescues are paid for mostly by a civilian group that raises money to retrieve the dogs for veterans.
Rack the User Name!!!
Damn that mangy mutt just looks Iraqi..
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