Act Fast to Save Iraqi Dog Ratchet

Act Fast to Save Iraqi Dog Ratchet

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<b>Update, 10/16/08: </b>Although Ratchet is still in Iraq at the moment, the military has cleared him to leave, and the hope is that he will leave for the United States very soon. Thanks to all of you for standing up for Ratchet and his human friend!<br /><br />Link: <a href='http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/an_update_on_iraqi_dog_ratchet'>Updated post</a><br /><br /><br />10/11/08<br /><br />Possibly only a few days remain to save Ratchet, so take the actions detailed here quickly.<br /><br /><a href='http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/save_the_life_of_a_soldiers_dog_seized_by_the_military_2'>Change.org Animal Rights post on this topic</a><a href='http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/save_the_life_of_a_soldiers_dog_seized_by_the_military_2'></a><br /><a href='http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/help-ratchet.html'>Original post (with far more details)</a><a href='http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/help-ratchet.html'></a><br /><br /><b>Short version: </b>A soldier&#39;s commanding officers confiscated her dog Ratchet when he (the dog) was en route, with 15 other dogs, to the airport, to be flown back to the United States with <a href='https://www.baghdadpups.com/'>Baghdad Pups</a>. Apparently to make a point regarding the army&#39;s rule against allowing soldiers to befriend animals on base, the commanding officers are refusing to let Ratchet leave. And now, if Baghdad Pups can&#39;t get him onto their next flight this coming week--the only flight remaining before the soldier ships out later this month--Ratchet will have to be abandoned when his soldier caregiver leaves. The soldier is heartbroken and desperate to save her beloved companion, whom she rescued as a puppy and who has been vital to her mental and emotional health during her many long months in Iraq. If left behind, Ratchet will almost certainly die. Help prevent this.<br /><br />----<br /><b>What You Can Do</b><br /> <br /> Contact Minnesota senators and representatives ASAP, even if you&#39;re not from Minnesota, keeping the following details in mind:<b><br /> <br /> </b>&nbsp;- Ratchet is at COP Meade, near Baghdad.<br /> &nbsp;- 15 other dogs were allowed to leave last week on the Baghdad Pups flight Ratchet was supposed to be on.<br /> &nbsp;- The military seized Ratchet on his way to the airport.<br /> &nbsp;- Ratchet is healthy, and there is no physical reason to keep him from leaving.<b><br /> &nbsp;- Ratchet needs a military release because the military is refusing to let him leave Iraq.<br /> <br /> </b>The original post and Kinship Circle alert both recommend calling or faxing over e-mailing because of the sheer number of e-mails these legislators receive. Following is all the <b>contact information</b> you need:<br /><br /><b>Senator Amy Klobuchar<br /></b>ph: 888-224-9043 or 612-727-5220<br />Washington DC fax: 202-228-2186<br />Metro fax: 612-727-5223<br />Web mail: <a href='http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm'>http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm</a><br />ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFO: <a href='http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm'>http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm</a><br /><br /><b>Senator Norm Coleman <br /></b>ph: 800-642-6041 or 651-645-0323<br />Washington DC fax: 202-224-1152<br />St. Paul, MN fax: 651-645-3110<br />Web mail: <a href='http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm'>http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm</a><br />ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFO:<br /><a href='http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices'>http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices</a><br /><br /><b>Representative Keith Ellison<br /></b>ph: 202-225-4755 or 612-522-1212<br />Washington DC fax: 202-225-4886<br />Minneapolis, MN fax: 612-522-9915<br />Web mail: <a href='http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=87'>http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=87</a><br />ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFO: (CLICK ON: CONTACT US)<br /><a href='http://ellison.house.gov/'>http://ellison.house.gov/</a> <br /><br />For a <b>sample letter to fax</b> (or e-mail if you decide to e-mail), see the following link:<a href='http://www.getfreshminds.com/Ratchet-letter.html'>Sample Letter from original poster</a><br /><br />Or shorten and personalize the following letter from <a href='http://www.kinshipcircle.org/'>Kinship Circle</a>:<br /><br />Dear Minnesota Senator/Representative:<br /><br />Please count my comments, along with similar messages you&#39;ve received. I am dismayed that Sgt. Gwen Beberg -- a Minnesota citizen presently deployed in the Middle East -- cannot bring home her beloved Iraq puppy Ratchet.<br /><br />Sgt. Beberg has remained on duty 15 months beyond her original tour due to the stop-loss policy. During that time she rescued Ratchet, a friendly mutt who became her lifeline. Naturally, Sgt. Beberg sought the aid of Baghdad Pups, an agency that negotiates clearance and transport for companion animals that U.S. soldiers "adopt" overseas.<br /><br />But this story cannot end happily without your help. Ratchet now faces death at the hands of U.S. Army officers. The military seized the dog while en route to the Baghdad airport with Sgt. Beberg. An SPCA International press release claims: "Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal [for befriending animals] and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules."<br /><br />This is unacceptable in the civilized world. Our Department of Defense must implement an adoption system that lets soldiers bring vetted pets back to the U.S. with them.<br /><br />In the meantime, Baghdad Pups returns to Baghdad on October 15, 2008. Officials must free Ratchet before then so he can leave Iraq with Baghdad Pups. Sgt. Beberg, who leaves later in October, will be forced to abandon Ratchet to certain death if he doesn&#39;t depart on that earlier flight.<br /><br />I hope it is not too late for Ratchet and urge you to act promptly. Please do everything possible to get Ratchet on board with Baghdad Pups. Sgt. Beberg deserves a happy ending after serving her country. Anything less is extraordinarily inhumane and unjust.<br /><br />Thank you,<br />[YOUR NAME]<br /><br />For your reference:<br /><a href='http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/baghdad-pups.html'>http://www.spca.com/press/item/56<br />http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/baghdad-pups.html</a><br /><a href='http://www.baghdadpups.com/'>http://www.baghdadpups.com/</a>

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