Remember the troops who were terrorizing the poor dog?

[peacebaby3]

"Army Spc. Joshua Sachse, 23, from Mobile, Ala., of Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, is greeted by the company's dog, Jill, near Youssifiyah, 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Email Photo Print Photo"

<http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070202/481/amma10302021404>

I ran across this photo and I thought it was important to show that not all of the troops are assholes like those guys in the video. My husband's unit adopted several dogs and some were even brought back through an organization that helps troops get their adopted dogs back with them. For those of you who may want to volunteer to help, here is the info:

<http://www.militarymascots.org/>

You can donate money or time, etc.

My husband and several of the other folks in his unit even adopted some indigenous lizards. They were being run over by some of the large trucks when they came out of their holes (homes) in the sand so they worked to move them to a safe place and when they left made sure that others that had come in took over watching them and any of the dogs they were forced to leave behind. I have pics of my husband with the lizards, but I'm not going to put his pic up since he is still active duty.

I had my husband watch the video of those assholes to see if he could make out anything on the uniforms, etc. but he wasn't able to.

Edit:

I'm adding this direct link to the current soldiers who have contacted Military Mascots seeking assistance to get their new furry friends home.

<http://www.militarymascots.org/mascot.html>

If you have time...check it out.

2nd edit:

I found this while reading something else.

<http://www.amazon.com/Baghdad-Love-Marine-Named-Lava/dp/1592289800>

This is the story of a Marine who worked to save his adopted dog, Lava, from Iraq. The name of the book is "From Baghdad with love, a Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava." This guy seems amazing. There are some comments about how much some people appreciate his true depiction of the conditions in Iraq.

He also takes the time to come back to his own Amazon page to discuss the very same video of the guys terrorizing the dog. He calls them animals.

I think I'm going to order this book.

[progressivebydesign]

1. That's very sweet.. I have seen a lot of photos of the adopted doggies.

I know that the majority of troops are happy to have something to take care of, and something that reminds them of being at home in a normal life.

[peacebaby3]

7. Absolutely. It helps them make it through. n/t

[adigal]

2. Thank you, thank you, thank you

And bless your good husband a thousand times.

[peacebaby3]

8. Thanks adigal. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

3. 99.9% of troops LOVE dogs and cats. Hence why people were so angry at Halliburton...

for killing all the cats in the Green zone.

[demnan]

4. What? I didn't hear about that?

Halliburton killed cats? Who do they think they are, Bill fucking Frist?

[Captain Hilts]

10. It's in Rajiv Cha....of the Wash Post's book, "Imperial Life in the Emerald City" nt

[Hawkowl]

12. Gandhi

As Gandhi said "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". Haliburton is raping the world with the stamp of APPROVAL of the American people. We must hold these bastards accountable. Sadists, Torturers, Criminals! They make the fictional Sopranos look like fucking choir boys.

My heartfelt thanks to your husband and his unit for standing up and setting an example as how true Americans act! Rec to the greatest page!

[peacebaby3]

23. Thanks for your kind thoughts, hawkowl88. I've always thought that quote from Ghandi

is so true.

[aquart]

6. WHAT? WHEN?

Is this general knowledge disseminated to rescue groups?

[peacebaby3]

9. Oh no. I hadn't heard about that incident, but I have heard of the higher

ups taking away the troops pets or killing them. You can go to Military Mascots and see some stories about how the group is trying to help a soldier, marine, etc. to save a pet and read that the pet has been taken away or killed.

It's horrible, but it's the higher ups and NOT the core troops!

That's why the faster the money can be raised and the things done to get the pet home, the better. Some troops try to get the pets out even before they come back from fear that something might happen to them so they is a request for foster homes as well.

[Rosemary2205]

5. K and r

cuz too many times the troops get a bad rap on here.

[smokey nj]

11. Thank you for posting this peacebaby3, but......

you made me cry, dammit!!
:hug:

[peacebaby3]

16. I know! You better not go read anything about the book I added

on the 2nd edit. I'm thinking of ordering it, but I may get sick after reading it (literally) because when I cry a lot my sinuses are inflamed for days!

I remember reading "A Lesson Before Dying" and by the end of the book, I was crying so hard that the ink on the pages was starting to smudge from the tears dropping on the pages. I was sick for several days.

[smokey nj]

18. I read the description.....

At least it appears that there's a happy ending for Lava. I watched an episode of "Dogs with Jobs" on the National Geographic channel a while back. One of the stories they told was about how the military would use dogs on patrols during Vietnam (most of the dogs were eventually euthanised). A handler of one of the dogs discussed how close he became to his dog and how much he wished he could have brought him home. The poor guy cried like a baby and I was a sobbing mess watching it.

[Laurab]

29. It's a really good book, honest

The guy went through hell and back to save the dog, and get it to the U.S., and a lot of people helped him. I didn't cry, because you can tell by the picture of his two dogs that the story ended well, but I did post about the book when that awful video was posted.

It was heartwarming, but not heartbreaking (at least for me).

[peacebaby3]

33. Thanks for the review. I was worried that some of the other details

about what went on in Iraq would be difficult to read as well. I think they should be, but I always feel like I have to prepare myself.

[malmapus]

13. Thanks for this story, thought I was gonna have to defend buddies when I saw the topic

My unit has been operating in Afgan (I haven't taken part in it but buddies I served with have been). But yeah, always laughing when I read stories they write about two dogs they have adopted.

[peacebaby3]

14. Hey Malmapus. Are they going to try to get them home? I know that

would be hard, but I'll be glad to donate some funds to them if anybody wants to try bring them home. I don't have a lot, but I will do all I can.

[michaz]

17. I will donate too

Let us know what we can do please.

[malmapus]

20. Actually I think they were!

I remember reading something about it, will have to go back and read through them again :)

[peacebaby3]

22. Oh, good! I'm serious about trying to help with the financial need and

if I could meet the dogs at an airport or maybe be part of the on-ground travel, I'll be glad to do that also. I'll bet we could find some other DUers (like Michaz..and especially in the pet group) that would be willing o help also.

[michaz]

26. Count me in. I am willing to help in anyway.

[midnight]

15. I'm glad that I didn't see that post about terrorizing dogs. This

is a great post about the kindness that our soldiers possess.

[SoCalDem]

28. I saw the thread, but "hid" it.. I cannot bear to read stuff like that

:cry:
I would hope that even in wartime, there is a small part of us all that would sllow some kindness to innocent beasts who have nothing to do with the war.

Most people love animals, and having a warm furry friend in a scary place can be a real blessing..

I hope they get to bring their pets home with them

[peacebaby3]

34. I didn't watch it either. I had my husband watch it. He said they were complete

assholes, but he couldn't get a good enough look to see much.

The link to the book on Amazon has a post from the LT. Col. that wrote it and it says that the video is being turned over to the DoD for investigation.

[peacebaby3]

19. Kicking. The other thread got hundreds of posts...why so few for a thread

like this one? I find that very disappointing.

[Virginia Dare]

21. Thanks for posting that, and another slightly OT point...

there was some discussion on the pets board about the situation with service members being deployed and having to leave pets behind. I'm currently fostering a puppy who was an owner give up due to a soldier being deployed. Very sad for both of them.

If you love animals, and have room in your heart and home, this is a good way to support the troops. Contact your local rescue organization, they may just be able to get you in touch with somebody in this situation who needs you.

[donco6]

24. I had no doubt that other one was an isolated case.

I mean, who DOESN'T like dogs?

[WernhamHogg]

25. Thanks a lot for posting this!

As an animal lover (dogs in particular) I couldn't even bring myself to read the other thread -- the title alone made me really upset and angry. I already knew the other post had to be a case of "a few bad apples", but it's still very reassuring to read posts like yours!

[peacebaby3]

36. WerhamHogg, just to let you know that I read that there was an effort to get an investigation into

the video. I don't know if it will happen.

[tabasco]

27. My rifle company adopted a dog when I was in Somalia.

Sorry to hear about more assholes on video disgracing the uniform. The great majority of the troops are trying to do the right things. There is the minority which are assholes and those who are turned into assholes by combat.

All the dogs in Somalia seemed to be the same breed. Short hair, curly tail, peppy little things, similar to the dog in the photo, just a bit smaller. Very nice dogs actually.

[peacebaby3]

38. I feel bad for the people that are turned into assholes by combat.

I often wonder if I could stay sane. I would hope so, but you never know until you are in that situation.

[Elwood P Dowd]

30. Thanks for posting this. I've sent the link to several friends

so they can make a donation.

[peacebaby3]

32. Thanks, Elwood. I'm sure any help would be wonderful! n/t

[Elwood P Dowd]

41. I sent them a few bucks that were setting in my PayPal account

Wish I could have sent more.

[northofdenali]

31. Your post has brightened my day.

Thank your husband for me, please - I'm involved in cat rescue groups here, and a few dog groups as well (mostly sled dogs), as well as supporting Search & Rescue teams. I can't bear the maltreatment of any animal!! It sounds like your husband and his buddies are truly what American means.

:kick:, rec & forwarded!

[peacebaby3]

37. Thanks so much for your kind words and for the work you do on behalf

of animals!

[Dastard Stepchild]

35. Military Mascots... how wonderful!

I had no idea such an organization existed. My husband and I were thinking about an organization to donate to for our Valentine's Day gift to one another, and I think this one just about fits the bill.

Wonderful!

[peacebaby3]

39. Oh, wow! That's great! What a beautiful thing to do! n/t

[judaspriestess]

40. Best Friends non profit organization

is carrying his book, I read about Lava. Best Friends is also taking in many of the dogs from the devestation including Lebanon were dogs are used as target practice. God Bless them.

So, so sad......... but they are a bright spot.

[Faryn Balyncd]

42. Thanks for the great story......."Hoo-ah"

[Raine]

43. THANKS

it's so GOOD to hear that some people can be kind when you hear so much about the ugly side of things.