If they would just teach the dog to mow lawns, pick fruit, or drive a cab, there would be no problem getting it into the country. . .
Army blocks soldier from bringing puppy back
WASHINGTON – More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Army to let an Iraqi puppy come home with a Minnesota soldier, who fears that “Ratchet” could be killed if left behind.
“I just want my puppy home,” Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis wrote to her mother in an e-mail Sunday from Iraq, soon after she was separated from the dog following a transfer. “I miss my dog horribly.” Beberg, 28, is scheduled to return to the U.S. next month.
(20 votes, average: 4.85 out of 5)
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October 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The only problem is that Glenn Reynolds is behind the push to allow soldiers to bring back puppies from Iraq and we all know what he wants to do with them.
This is a perfect example of the road to hell being paved with good intentions.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
We don’t have time for this crap! We have gabazillionaires out there taking a pounding in the market and they need our tax dollars now! Oh the humanity!!!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
So… this Gwen wants to take a dog from Iraq, where temperatures are commonly above 100F, and wants to take it to-of all places-Minnesota. And just in time for winter.
I think the dog would have a higher chance of surviving in Iraq.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Meh. Tons of dogs here in America. Find an Iraqi boy to adopt the pooch.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Aren’t dogs unclean though?
October 14th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Well, CNN reporters just steal things from Iraq, whether or not it’s legal, and then display them back home in their office. Yet a patriotic soldier who was actually doing something good for America can’t take her dog home? That sounds typical.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I know, I know. Change it’s name to Obama.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Naming it Obama wouldn’t be right. That dog is actually black.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Unless policy has changed in the less than 3 years since I’ve been back, SGT Beberg is breaking a special order. Theater wide it was ordered no Mascots. In times before units deployed overseas would have some animal as their company mascot/pet. Not anymore for this very reason. At my company we had a Golden Eagle that some of the local children found as a chick and gave to the unit before us. The only reason we got to keep it was because it was an endangered species and a 3 star general signed off on it. We tried to have the bird shipped off to the Birds Of Prey Wildlife center in Idaho because it was missing it’s left wing but still could be used for breeding. That was a no-go.
I understand the love for your pet, but if my unit couldn’t get a freekin endangered eagle home that could be used to help rebuild the population, her chances of getting her dog home is less than none.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:54 am
I just got back last month, and no, the regs haven’t changed a bit. GO1a (Iraq) and GO1b (Afghanistan) still forbid pets, and mascots. Also porn, and cohabitation. And Booze. So, pretty much anything fun.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:39 am
And they wonder why when servicemembers return home we become alcohalics? Because alcohol tastes good and we haven’t had any for over a year.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Blackfive has an excellent summary of the situation here http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/10/a-soldier-and-1.html
Bottom line – she violated longstanding orders and now that she was caught, is trying for sympathy through the media…
October 16th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Yup. Came back last month. No pets, no mascots.
Her bringing it back wouldn’t be a real problem. The 10,000 soldier who does would be the problem. Not to mention potential rabies, fleas, dog crap all over the base, fights…
No pets.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
UPDATE: Private animal rights group have chartered a jet to bring the dog to the US. Yay!
Happy ending, and it didn’t cost me anything (no tax payer dollars were harmed in the completion of this rescue!).