Just saw the news today, that thanks to 50,000 signatures on the petition and some political pressure, the military is now ready to allow Ratchet to come home from Iraq, possibly as early as Sunday. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, click here for the original post.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Sergeant Gwen Beberg never dreamed her compassion for a dog she rescued last May from a burning pile of trash in Baghdad would spark such a fight. Approaching the end of her tour in Iraq, the good sergeant was transferred in preparation for returning to the United States next month. You guessed it, the military will not allow Ratchet the dog to accompany Gwen even to her new base, let alone back to the U.S.
“I just want my puppy home. I miss my dog horribly,” Sergeant Beberg, 28, e-mailed her mother after being separated from Ratchet.
The military said in a statement that Customs procedures often prevented foreign animals from entering the US without vaccination records and other medical documents. Although official military policy prohibits deployed soldiers from bringing home strays, the Department of Defense has been known to make exceptions. Working with Operation Baghdad Pups, a program set up by the International SPCA, soldiers have been able to bring home 50 dogs and 6 cats from Iraq.
Terry Crisp, of Operation Baghdad Pups, flew to Dubai yesterday and is due to arrive in the Iraqi capital tomorrow to speak to members of the military. “Iraqis view dogs and cats as rats, as nuisances, carriers of disease,” she said, noting that US soldiers had rescued many abused animals, such as a puppy that was being kicked by a circle of Iraqi men.
Crisp’s colleague, Larry Garrison, makes that point that pets can serve an important function by helping soldiers readjust to normal life when they return home.
If you agree, sign the petition to bring Ratchet home!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
The American Kennel Club recently released the results of a survey of 2007 names under which purebred dogs were registered. Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for the AKC, says changing times are being reflected in the names we give our dogs.
Good news! Pennsylvania, often called the Puppy Mill Capitol of the Eastern United States, has finally passed tough new laws that limit the ability of puppy mills to keep their breeding stock locked up in small cages under inhumane conditions.
A new study discussed on the Discovery Channel documents that male puppies often put themselves in submissive positions, allowing their girl friends to win the game, all in the interest of keeping the playtime going.
With election season coming fast upon us, we invite you to participate in our Survey Saturday by telling us how your dog would vote for President.
Continue reading Survey Saturday: Who would your dog vote for?
How’s this for a specialized job? We’ve all heard of dogs who sniff out drugs at the airport, or who look for climbers after an avalanche, but Razor, a Mallinois employed by the Florida Department of Corrections, is trained to find cell phones!
I posted recently about how some people trust their dog’s judgment when choosing their dates and mates. Here’s a new twist on that theme.
As you know, I search the Internet daily, looking for news that might be of interest to dog-lovers. This one just cracked me up, and I had to share it.
Yesterday’s post talked about the fix all of us are in as the economy gasps for life. If you are trying to find ways to cut back, maybe you can consider some of the ideas shown below for reducing expenses related to your favorite pets.
Continue reading Top Ten Ways to Save Money On Your Dog’s Needs
A recent post on MainStreet.com says pet spending will likely decline this year due to the economic crunch most of us are feeling. While the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association had originally forecast we’d spend $43.4 billion on our pets this year, that number may prove optimistic as the year winds down.