This story is so touching. Following the death of this Soldier in Iraq, his family is trying to get help bringing home to the U.S. two stray dogs that he adopted while he was stationed in Baghdad. The dogs meant a lot to him and his famliy wants to give them a loving home. It won't be easy getting those dogs to the U.S.

When my fiance was in Iraq the first time, with the National Guard, he and his friends adopted a small puppy. He was my fiance's dog from the start. I sent over toys, shampoo, and other things for him. He kept my fiance company throughout his guard and lookout shifts. He wanted to bring him back home with him. He talked to his superiors and they said no. We contacted war dog organizations and people who had exported dogs in the past. We never found a way to make it happen. Just finding a vet in Iraq to examine a dog is hard. At that time (and maybe now), vaccines were in short supply. Many Iraqis went without medicine, so it seemed extravagant to vaccinate dogs. Working out quarantine issues were also going to be a problem. Then we had no one to transport the dog for us when my fiance was traveling home with his unit.

Since then I've learned about the group Operation Baghdad Pups. Operation Baghdad Pups is an SPCA International organization that works to safely transport U.S. Soldiers’ mascots and companion animals back from Iraq. They obtain the help of veterinarians, work out quarantines for the dogs, make sure the dogs are vaccinated, and obtain transportation to bring the individual dogs home to the U.S. for the Soldier who has requested help for the dog.

I've been critical before of rescue organizations which import huge numbers of stray animals from abroad for adoption in this country. However, I have no problem with helping a Soldier bring home a dog that has helped him get through his time in a war zone. That's completely different. These dogs are already someone's pet. And these dogs have good veterinary care and follow quarantine procedures before they enter the U.S.

I hope Operation Baghdad Pups or a similar organization will help the Neesley family bring home Sgt. Neesley's dogs.

From Channel 4, Detroit

Fallen Soldier's Family Wants His Dogs Sent Home
POSTED: 7:06 am EST January 4, 2008
UPDATED: 8:45 am EST January 4, 2008

GROSSE POINT FARMS, Mich. — The Neesley family of Grosse Pointe Farms is hoping to turn heartache into healing.

Their 28-year-old son, U.S. Army Sgt. Peter Neesley died suddenly and mysteriously on Christmas Day while serving in Iraq.

Before his death, he told his family he wanted two stray dogs he found and cared for in Baghdad to come home with him to Michigan.

"It was so like Peter. I can't tell you how many times he came home with stray animals of one kind or another," said Carey Neesley, the soldier's sister.

Sgt. Neesley's cause of death was ruled undetermined by the U.S. Army.

Officials told the family he died in a non-combat death in his sleep.

In their grief, the Neesleys have turned their attention to getting Peter Neesley's two stray dogs, named "Mama" and "Boris," home to Michigan.

"Peter loved them. To us, it's a living legacy of Peter," said Carey Neesley.

The family especially wants the dogs home to be pets for the soldier's nephew, Patrick Durkin, 9.
Peter Neesley was a father figure to Durkin.

"I'd just love to have them, so I could walk with them and feed them and just hug them at night," Durkin said.

"Maybe if he had one of those dogs to curl up with or walk down the road with, it might make things a little bit easier," said Carey Neesley.

Peter Neesley will be laid to rest on Saturday at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial with military honors.

The Neesley family has contacted several national news outlets, as well as Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Michigan U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, for help in getting the soldier's dogs to Michigan.

The family has also ordered a private autopsy to look into Peter Neesley's cause of death.

To see pictures of Neesley and his dogs, his family has set up a Web album here.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 6:21 am and is filed under General Dogs' Topics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.