All this for a dog?

So you may have heard that I'm flying over to Baghdad next week with Operation Baghdad Pups to help bring the next group of mascots home. I can't wait. Cinnamon was a mascot awaiting travel to the US at one time. Had Operation Baghdad Pups been in existence back then ('06) she would not have gone through the trauma and harrowing experience of being thrown away (7000 miles from home) like trash by the dog handler that was supposed to safely bring her home to her new family. But that's a story for another day.

My travel buddy, Charlene keeps asking if I have any questions. She had lots of them before the first time she went over. I really just want to know if I need to bring my own sleeping bag, sheets, pillow, towels and TP. What did she know about the mission she was going on that I am missing?

Whether I am ready or not, my trip starts in less than a week. I'll be leaving on Monday, February 9 at about 11 PM from JFK. There are several stops along the way, in New York, Dubai and then Kuwait before we actually get to Baghdad. I'm embarrassed to say I did not know where Dubai was until I looked on a map. Even now I'm still not so sure.

And did you know that Dubai is an Emirate? Well I didn’t know that either. Not that it would have mattered since I didn't know what an emirate was either. Well I looked it up and now I'm wondering if an emirate is more like a state, a province or a country. I do see the connection in that it is ruled by an Emir. Catchy how they came up with the term emirate. All that aside, it will take four plane rides in all to get there, four plane rides back and a total of about 80 hours of travel (about 32 actual flight) time. Whew!

ALL THAT FOR A DOG? OR CAT? Who's asking might I ask? And, I have to say that if they have to ask, then I couldn't possibly explain. And yes, there are millions of animals right here in the US that need homes. I know, I know. I get it.

But you may have heard me say it before….you can't help who you fall in love with. And these men and women in uniform have sacrificed for our country and for our freedoms. And they have found comfort in and fallen in love with these mascots. It would be cruel and wrong to expect the soldiers to leave the pups and kitties behind when they all have come to rely on each other for their very survival. Call me melodramatic.

So yes, I am bringing home 3 pups and 1 kitty for our troops. And in case you know someone who was asking "All that for a dog?", pass this along to them. It goes for kitties, too.

JUST A DOG

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled,
the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been
brought about by "just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust,
and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion
and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early,
take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams
of the future, the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts
my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog",
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog"
just smile...
because they "just don't understand."

by Richard Biby

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Contributing Editor VHD

From "The Versatile Hunting Dog"
NAVHDA's Magazine
February 2006

Next time, "Have you met my special cargo?"

I Need a Moment.....

At the risk of stating the obvious, please remember to keep pets indoors during these frigid temperatures. And don't be afraid to report to the proper authorities (police, animal control officer, cruelty hotline, etc.) any situation that you might witness where an animal is in potential danger or is being neglected or abused. We MUST speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

I heard last week about a case where a Toy Poodle had been left in someone's car at the airport while they were away on an extended trip. I hadn't seen or read anything about it on the news so I googled the story and here is what I found.

"Michou -- a 12-year old poodle -- had been left in a car for 19 days in the frigid cold at Burlington International Airport without food or water. He had lost more than half of his body weight. A passerby noticed Michou and called police."

If you read the whole story, Michou's owner claims he "forgot that the dog was in the car" when he left on his trip. HUUULLLLOOOO, Michou's owner! REALLY?

The guy drove two hours to the airport and would be gone for almost three weeks. How in the world does someone leave on an extended trip, not make arrangements for their dog to be cared for while they are away and then forget that he is in the car with them while they gather their bags?

Personally, I can't make heads or tails of it. So in order to maintain my sanity, I have to look toward using this careless act to help save other animals. I have wondered ever since I heard the story, how many people must have passed by the car with poor, helpless Michou starving inside and didn't give him a second thought. He was in an airport parking garage afterall. Someone was surely just picking up an arriving passenger and would be back shortly. The circumstances, however, were most unfortunate for little Michou.

Michou was extremely lucky as one passerby finally noticed him 19 days after he was left by his owner and she called the police. Due to the caring act of this stranger, Michou was rescued by police, given proper medical attention and survived. The next fur-baby might not be so lucky.

So please take a moment. If you see an animal locked in a car when it is too hot or too cold call the authorities. It is better to risk being wrong about the situation than to risk the dog's or cat's life if you do nothing. It only takes a moment. You can make a difference. And isn't that exactly why we are here?

"Saving one animal will not change the world, but surely the world will change for that one animal."

My Own Amazing Journey

Here it is….almost a year since I helped welcome home Charlie, the first Operation Baghdad Pup military mascot to reach US soil. Charlie landed at Dulles International Airport on February 14, 2008. Mark, Cinnamon, and I were there to see him take his first steps in the good ol' US of A. I had hoped from that moment to be able to make a trip to the Middle East with OBP and help bring mascots home for our soldiers serving. And now my dream is about to become a reality. I am headed to Baghdad for Mission # 19. I am scheduled to leave on Monday, Feb 9, make a few layovers on the way and land in Baghdad on Wed Feb 11.

It's sort of hard to believe. I almost bailed on going….not that I am afraid or anything like that. (Although I have yet to break the news to Mom just yet!). It's just that my world was recenlty turned upside down. My Dad passed away unexpectedly just over a month ago. Losing him has been really hard. But he knew that I wanted to join one of these missions to help bring these pups and kitties home, to help give them a better life than the one that they might otherwise live out if they are left behind. He knew I would go sooner or later. And so, just as my Dad would not sit around doing nothing, I too am getting back in motion. Yes, Mom, I am going to Baghdad.

It was also my vision from the start…that somehow Saving Cinnamon (which is a whole other story ) would lead us -- Mark, Cinnamon, and myself -- to be able to help save other mascots. I didn't know exactly how that would happen, but that is indeed exactly what is happening. Cinnamon's amazing journey, in part, led to the creation of SPCA International's program Operation Baghdad Pups. A program I support wholeheartedly. And, now, to see my vision of saving other mascot dogs and cats become a reality is truly a privilege. So here I am, almost 2 years from the time we saved Cinnamon, going over to Baghdad with Operation Baghdad Pups to help give a few soldiers a coming home present ...their mascots delivered safe and sound to US soil. Feels just a little patriotic….unexpectedly so. Pretty cool huh?