No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home From the Combat Zone (24 page)

On behalf of Burt (short for "Burtuqaalli," "orange" in Arabic), thank you.

-CPL Erin A. Kirk

This is about Beatrice Kiddo. We have cared for her for so long; I cry when I write this. She is the most loving, sweetest dog I have ever known, and she is a part of our Army family here. She loves being loved, as she has probably never been treated this well. She has five puppies now, and all have been claimed by soldiers ranking from Specialist all the way to Captain. I can't imagine leaving them here when we go. They would not know how to fend for themselves. Beatrice is spoiled, and she would starve to death on her own. Please help us get her and the pups out of Iraq. They will be almost twelve weeks old in June and able to fly.

-SSG Roberta Green

My husband, SGT Gary Dobbs, is currently serving his third tour in Iraq. While driving back from an exhausting mission, the driver of the Humvee, who is not allowed to stop under any circumstances for our own soldiers' safety, hit a pup that darted out in front of them. Fortunately, they were not far from the FOB (forward operating base), and this puppy had such a fight for life. He actually followed the convoy back to the FOB.

My husband immediately went to the puppy's aid. He got their medic to come and see him. After an extensive examination, it was apparent he had some minor and some possibly serious injuries. My husband went to work fetching all the supplies needed to disinfect the wounds and to brace his back leg for support. He fed him and gave him a warm bath. When Gary called and told me the story of what happened, he asked me to send supplies for Dodger and begged me to see if I could find some way to help get this precious little guy out of Iraq. Dodger has since healed of all his injuries except for a minor limp on his back leg.

This dog is just what Gary needed to pull his morale back up. Dodger has become my husband's best friend and a focus point that helps Gary deal with being away from his family and in the middle of a war. My husband's buddy deserves a loving home where he can be taken care of without the fear of abandonment.

-Susan Dobbs

I am an international police advisor working at the Ministry of Interior. We have a small pup, approximately four months old. The Iraqis where we work had abused him, kicking and throwing rocks at him, until we intervened. The pup has adopted us now. I would like to get him home to Texas where he will never experience cruelty again.

-Michael Hughes

I am an Air Force mental health technician assigned to a FOB combat stress control unit with the Army. Our team of mental health professionals consists of five Air Force and one Army member. We recently adopted a four-week-old puppy that was found at the motor pool and would have been put to sleep if no one took him. Patton has quickly become a loved member of the team. I see the joy he brings to the soldiers we come in contact with on a daily basis. Many of the soldiers who wouldn't come for counseling before now willingly come to visit the puppy. Without their realizing it, we establish therapeutic relationships while the soldiers hold the puppy and talk. He's the best mental health technician on the team!

With tours lasting up to eighteen months, it's grueling on the soldiers and their families. Our records show that 50 percent of them have relationship difficulties as a result of separation. Without skilled listeners, soldiers suffer alone with depression as well as war-related trauma.

Our team members work twelve-hour days listening to and feeling the same emotions the combat soldiers feel, so it's incredibly draining, and we need an outlet for release. Until Patton came, we didn't have that outlet. Patton never stops giving unconditional love. At the end of his workday of comforting soldiers, the little guy comes and sits on our laps, with no idea he's putting in overtime. His tail is like a paintbrush that sweeps sorrows away while he makes us forget the harsh reality of war for a little while. I have two daughters at home, and when I miss holding them in my arms, I hug Patton.

Patton has played an extraordinary role, and now that our deployment is about to end, we want to get our co-therapist to the United States. Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated because we cannot leave him behind!

-Major Jennifer Mann

My company made a great friend on this deployment. Our dog Stubbs deserves so much more than what this country can offer. When an Iraqi walks by, Stubbs stands his ground and barks. He is willing to protect us, no matter what. He sits at the gate all day and night keeping the guards company. When we soldiers go running, Stubbs is right there with us, motivating us to run farther or just darn right making us look bad by doing circles around us, showing what a PT stud he is. A few times when we came off missions, we found Stubbs beaten up by other dogs, with blood from teeth marks on his head. I would sit down beside him, thinking he wouldn't make it through the night, and he'd just fall asleep with his head next to my leg. That's the great thing about Stubbs, he'll sit next to you as you pet him, and soon he'll be asleep, so peaceful after an exhausting day. Stubbs is the greatest sight in life when there's little good to see here.
                                                                                                                       -SSG Darlene Jones

Patton hard at work during "talk therapy" Jenni Mann

Puppy with an Iraqi version of a dog toy SPCA International

I understand that being on your list means our girl has a oneway ticket to the States. You have no clue how happy we are to hear this great news. We just came off of patrol and to tell my people that Diwo is going to the States, I wish you could see their faces. If there is anything else you need between now and then, don't hesitate to let me know. Again, thanks for everything you have done for us. You have made our day.

-SSG Carole Cooper

After reading the soldiers' testaments, Dave Lusk sent a reply that summed up what everyone on the FedEx, Gryphon, and SLG teams felt.

"Bringing these animals home is not a question of ifthis will happen, Terri. It is a matter of when."

Ralphie after another long day in the war zone Amber Daigle

he next few days churned into a whirlwind of communication, activity, hard decisions, and international teamwork. The newly assembled FedEx team was headed by Dave Lusk, whose office was in Memphis, Tennessee. Dave worked nonstop trying to find a feasible air route from Dubai to New Jersey as well as an available aircraft with a pressurized and climate-controlled cargo hold. In order for FedEx to move the animals at no cost to SPCA International, the plane we'd be on would be carrying a full load of cargo as well. Delivery stopovers in more than one country would have to be made on the route to New Jersey.

Another issue for Dave was meeting the regulations for unloading cargo in each of the countries where we'd stop. Having animals on board altered all the rules. Even though they weren't going to leave the plane, government paperwork and certifications for each animal needed to be presented for inspection upon landing.

The FedEx ground crew in Dubai also needed extra time to design and build three platforms that would support the animals' crates while preventing them from toppling over during air turbulence. The crates would be strapped onto the platforms in such a way that equipment could quickly maneuver them when cargo was being loaded or unloaded. The platforms also had to be configured so that every animal's crate faced outward and was easily accessible for giving food and water and for cleaning.

The other major challenge was determining how to get the animals from Baghdad to Dubai since FedEx did not fly this route. Once again John Wagner jumped in to offer Gryphon's services for transporting the animals on this leg of their journey. Gryphon Airlines had never landed at Dubai, however. The pressing task for John was to get permission from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. Firsttime approval normally took thirty days. We had less than two weeks. Gryphon also had to coordinate flight crews and available aircraft while ensuring that the company's regular service wasn't interrupted.