An Awww story: Ratchet the Iraqi pup becomes a real snow bunny

[question everything]

StarTribune.com
Ratchet the Iraqi pup becomes a real snow bunny

By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune

December 26, 2008

Two months after Ratchet the Iraqi puppy arrived in Minnesota in a blaze of TV lights and international publicity, he's happily chilling at his new home in Spring Lake Park. The famous pooch saw his own reflection for the first time and barked wildly at it until he got used to being around glass doors and windows. He lost his manhood to a vet's scalpel and learned about the doorbell. And after spending his puppyhood in Baghdad, where summer heat can reach 120 degrees, he stepped into his first snowfall in Pat and Ted Beberg's yard in below-zero temperatures -- and loved it.

"At first he'd pick up a back leg and shake it, like 'What is this stuff?'" said Pat Beberg. Now "he sticks his nose down in the snow just like a dog from here and ends up with a big white muzzle. He'll dig for a chunk of ice and toss it around ... "He's just a doll. He's having so much fun."

Beberg's daughter, Army Specialist Gwen Beberg, adopted Ratchet after fellow soldiers in Baghdad found the crying pup in a burning trash pile on Mother's Day. Gwen Beberg said the dog helped her get through a difficult stint in Iraq. When her transfer stateside was approaching, she arranged to send Ratchet to her parents' home in Minnesota through the animal rescue group Operation Baghdad Pups. But the military, which prohibits service men and women from having pets in Iraq, stepped in and prevented him from leaving.

Once Ratchet's story hit the Internet, it became a cause célèbre, with almost 70,000 people signing Internet petitions. The offices of Minnesota's U.S. senators and representatives became involved. Military officials relented, and Ratchet arrived in Minnesota on Oct. 22. Now about nine months old, the gangly black-and-white border collie mix is filling out but still hasn't grown into his giant paws. He's adapted to living inside, is house-trained (he sits by the back door, looks over his shoulder and gives a little "rooof" when he needs to go out), and, Pat Beberg said, turns out to be scary-smart.

(snip)

Gwen Beberg, 28, is now stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. Her parents hope she's out of the Army and home by the end of January. Pat Beberg said Gwen plans to go back to college next fall and wants to train Ratchet as a therapy dog.

(snip)

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/36764804.html

[Mist]

1. I'm glad about Ratchet, but why did you post in such a ginormous format? Just asking. nt

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes... Is there a way to resize a post like this that scrolls of the

screen.... It happens from time to time and I suspect there must be some secret trick, but I'll be darned if I know what it is...


At any rate, lovely story and one that brings considerable pride in my fellow wo(man) in this case...

[truedelphi]

5. Maybe to give all of us an excuse to drink some gin??

The story is such a heartthrobber, that the gin is needed.

[question everything]

11. I am not a tech maven

Here is the link from the "properties"

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/502*331/1Ratchet1227.jpg

which did not give me anything

So I decided to delete the numbers in the middle: the 502*331 and got this giant.

If anyone knows how to fix it, please let me know.

[roguevalley]

12. thank you. I needed lovely tonight.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Ok, now you've gone and done it... Tears here. On the second page of the article

there is an adorable video of Ratchet with Gwen's Mom.

Thank you for the update on this fairy-tail story! Recommended of course!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

4. K&R for Ratchet and his new family

I kinda like the huge photo - it's what I see every morning from my newly-adopted chihuahua when she wakes me up.

[Captain Hilts]

6. I know Halliburton killed all the cats in the Green Zone, but when has the military prohibited pets?

that's NEW.

[Botany]

7. I got something in my eye

Gwen Beberg, 28, is now stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. Her parents hope she's out of
the Army and home by the end of January. Pat Beberg said Gwen plans to go back to
college next fall and wants to train Ratchet as a therapy dog.

[GardeningGal]

8. I'm so happy Ratchet made it back and is doing well.

It will be quite a celebration when Gwen gets home too.

[Hawkeye-X]

9. Off to the Greatest - great story, and I remember Rachet from earlier articles.

K&R

[ogneopasno]

10. Ah, if only people had worked as hard to bring the soldiers home, too!