In The News: Recent Happenings
15 Soldiers' Animals Rescued; Ratchet Still in Iraq October 8th 2008
"The military is blatantly disregarding free therapy for our mentally wounded soldiers."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC October 8th –Operation Baghdad Pups is a SPCA International (www.SPCA.com) initiative created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for animals our U.S. soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East. Today, Operation Baghdad Pups Program Manger, Terri Crisp, returned to the United States marking the successful rescue of 15 more U.S. soldiers' pets.
Unfortunately,the achievement of this weeks rescues has been debased by confiscation and threats of murder riddled upon multiple other patriot pups. One of these military mascots, Ratchet, was confiscated on his way to the Baghdad Airport on Oct 1st for no apparent reason. Ratchet was scheduled to be flown home to Sgt. Gwen Beberg’s parents in Minneapolis, MN that evening.
“It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen. Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline,” explains Sgt. Beberg's mother, Patricia Beberg. Due to the Stop-Loss policy the military has held Sgt. Beberg more than 15 months past her original commitment and now the military that required extraordinary sacrifice from her has ripped away her last remaining lifeline.
At least 5 other soldiers are facing situations similar to Sgt. Beberg’s as the military cracks down on animal friendships the y consider to be harmful. SPCA International strongly disagrees, citing medical studies and military insiders who testify to the mental health benefits animals bring to their soldier companions in times of depression and crisis. “There comes a point when Americans must ask, whose side is the military on? The way the military is blatantly disregarding free therapy for our mentally wounded soldiers begs that question today,” states Terri Crisp, Operation Baghdad Pups Program Manager.
Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The military refuses to help or formally recognize the lifeline these animals give to our mentally wounded. Veterans returned from Iraq are committing suicide at twice the rate of average Americans. It is time that Americans ask the Veterans Administration and the military to embrace all measures to ensure the mental health of every one of our soldiers returning from war. Operation Baghdad Pups’ dogs and cats can help fight this silent killer.
Terri Crisp, Operation Baghdad Pups Program Manager, and Patricia Beberg, mother of U.S. Sgt. Gwen Beberg, are available for interviews.
Press Contact: saveratchet@spca.com
