The Humane Society of the United States is asking everyone to write to the Department of Defense to encourage them to help the animals in Iraq.
Here are the problems:
1. American soldiers are forbidden from adopting a stray animal they befriended in Iraq.
2. Pet and stray dogs are frequently killed in an attempt to prevent rabies although research finds that these culls are both ineffective and inhumane.
3. No prohibition or punishment for cruelty towards animals exists in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Here is what the HSUS propose as a solution:
1. Add an anti-cruelty clause to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
2. Shift resources to a vaccination strategy for addressing concerns about rabies in Iraq.
3. Adopt a program that would permit soldiers to adopt a pet from Iraq
If you would be willing to write to the DOD, please go to this page at the HSUS website. Iraqi Animals
Click on the visit the Department of Defense website, and scroll down to the bottom. You will see a link at bottom left corner that says, "The Department of Defense" click on that and write them a letter! If your not sure what to say, see below for the letter I just wrote to them, you are welcome to copy it.
I respectfully request that you please release Gwen Beberg's dog "Ratchet" from Iraq. Beyond even the situation regarding Sgt. Beberg and Ratchet, I believe the US military needs to:
1. Add an anti-cruelty clause to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
2. Shift resources to a vaccination strategy for addressing concerns about rabies in Iraq.
3. Adopt a program that would permit soldiers to adopt a pet from Iraq.
(As the HSUS has suggested)
Cruelty to animals is never acceptable for civilians or the military. Yet, the American public has heard reports of commanding officers executing dogs, and in certain situations, even forcing soldiers to watch as their beloved pets are shot to death. There have also been reports of commanding officers forcing soldiers to sign death orders for their dogs. This is a completely unacceptable way to treat our soldiers, and cannot continue.
These dogs and cats are incredibly therapeutic for our troops. Many of the soldiers that return will suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome, and a suicide rate 2x an average civilian. These pets help ease the stress when in Iraq, and can help them when they get home as well. I request that you allow these troops to return home with their pets.
Watch this video of soldiers with their dogs rescued by Operation Baghdad Pups:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSDeM_qWsq8
