Hawkeye and JT

I have a soft spot for soldiers, have many in my family who have served (including my Mom) and have been actively supporting them since December 2004, through Soldiers' Angels (which supports deployed persons) and more recently, through serving on the Advisory Board of the Lone Survivor Foundation (which supports wounded combat veterans.)  LSF was founded by a U.S. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and knew the SEAL below personally. These guys are the best trained fighters in the world. It's not a casual claim. There are only about 5,000 operational SEALs at any given moment. They are not calvary; they go into enemy territory, kill the super bad guys, and get out. And they never leave a man behind.

Due to the relatively small number of SEALs on the planet, the enormous loss on August 6th (30 Service members KIA; 22 of them SEALs) was, as a SEAL friend says, "like the SEAL community losing an aircraft carrier."

Below is one soldier's funeral and his loyal dog bidding him farewell.

Rest in Peace, Brave Warrior.

Petty Officer Jon Tumilson and Hawkeye

via Animal Planet:

Navy SEAL U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T. Tumilson was among the 30 American troops killed August 6 when Taliban insurgents downed their Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. At his funeral in Iowa, his dog Hawkeye paid his last respects, walking up to the casket, lying down in front of it, and heaving a sigh.

If you wish to support our Nation's Best, please consider a gift to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

From their website:

To help the families of the fallen Navy SEALs, please consider:

◦Texting “SEAL” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Navy SEAL Foundation
◦Donate over the phone by calling 757-763-5501
◦Making an online gift
◦Joining our Facebook page
◦Mail a check to: Navy SEAL Foundation 1619 D Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23459

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Vote for this cute pet so Soldiers' Angels can win some money for Troops

http://bissell.com/mvp_PetDetail.aspx?id=8590066411


Every bit helps. Funny how this effort is for both dogs and soldiers, my two favs. Miss Scarlet is actually one of the six chihuahuas of the founder of Soldiers' Angels, Patti Patton-Bader.

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xoxo (Voting is through March 4th.  Thanks!!)

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News Round Up

In the news this past week:

In the Let's-Sack-the-Quarterback! category:

http://www.pawnation.com/2009/09/17/michael-vick-donates-to-animal-rescue-sort-of/

Pennsylvania's Main Line Animal Rescue (MLAR) placed an ad in the Washington Post pledging that each time the Eagles' new quarterback is tackled during the Oct. 26 away game against the Redskins, five bags of dog food will be donated to a D.C. animal shelter.

In the Michael-Vick-Is-A-Jerk category:
http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/09/update-multistate-dogfighting-bust/

(Photo by Dawn Majors/P-D)

Multistate Dogfighting Bust

Four more guilty pleas in this case brings the total to five men awaiting sentencing in the biggest dog fighting ring bust in US history. The five have agreed to give up the dogs. A total of 26 people were arrested. So far, no other cases have been processed. This bust took place July 8. I guess I’d rather have this crawl through the system at a snail’s pace if that’s what it takes to get them all convicted.

Fay, pictured above, is one of the seized dogs whose lips and part of her nose were lost in the fighting ring, and is just 5 years old. She’s one of many being judged fit, or not, for adoption.
(See video at the link)... warning, there are some (more) graphic scenes.
 
In the Things-That-Make-You-Go-Hmmmm category:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090716141146.htm

ScienceDaily (July 17, 2009) — A single evolutionary event appears to explain the short, curved legs that characterize all of today's dachshunds, corgis, basset hounds and at least 16 other breeds of dogs, a team led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, reported July 16. In addition to what it reveals about short-legged dogs, the unexpected discovery provides new clues about how physical differences may arise within species and suggests new approaches to understanding a form of human dwarfism.

In the Thank-God-this-Exists category:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1513658750?bctid=1517521893

Overview of NEADS:  (see all the types of service dogs they have!)
http://www.neads.org/services_new/index.shtml

NEADS' mission is to provide independence to people who are deaf or physically disabled through the use of canine assistance. Our goal is to provide the highest quality of trained dogs to all qualified applicants within a reasonable amount of time (one year or less).

NEADS was once a Soldiers' Angels Charity of the Month. See Volunteer Greta Perry at Soldiers' Angels discuss this at her blog:

http://www.soldiersangelsla.org/?p=1145

In the Inmates-Training-Dogs-category (a previous story):

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/us/31dogs.html?ref=us

CONCORD, Mass., Oct. 27 — Rainbow looks like any other Labrador retriever, but she is not a pet. Trained by a prison inmate, her mission is to help Roland Paquette, an injured veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, stay on his new feet, the ones he got after an explosion destroyed his legs.

In the Glad-This-Is-Happening category:
(and very upset I'll be traveling for work this weekend, as I am also missing Blessing of the Animals!)

HOUNDS ON THE SOUND!

On Sunday, October 4, Pet Rescue and the New Rochelle Humane Society will jointly host our first annual Hounds on the Sound Dog Walk and Festival at the beautiful Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, NY from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. There will be a leisurely 1.5 mile walk on a course bordering on Long Island Sound as well as vendors, exhibitors, contests, demonstrations, refreshments, entertainment and fun for all. Proceeds from the event will benefit both organizations equally and we hope you will come out and support us.

REGISTER OR DONATE TODAY!  Walk with your favorite dog!

Register to walk at the Hounds on the Sound website:

 http://hots.ny-petrescue.org/

There is a $20 fee to register. Then you can create your own webpage and email friends, family and coworkers to solicit pledges for your walk. If you raise $100 or more in pledges you will get a free event t-shirt.
Become a Donor. A donation of $100 (FRIEND) will earn you an event t-shirt and special mention on our website. At the $250 level (DONOR) you will also get a 12" x 18" trail marker sign with your name or message which will be posted along the course. The deadline to donate for the trail marker is Friday, Sept. 18th. To make a donation click here, print the form and mail it to us.
Make a Contribution online in the amount of your choice. Click here and type "Cat Napper" in the box.
Forward this message to your dog lover friends and family and encourage them to participate too. Have a fun day in the park and help us to save lots of needy dogs and cats.

If you have any questions, email us at Walk@NY-Petrescue.org.



A Sign-The-Petition-Drive:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/tc/3/StopCruelAnimalEuthanasia/dkfbhk8a61rkfzn46lcs/9j1ualxvkw96



Another one for Thank-God-This-Exists:

A paw and a prayer: Pilots save shelter animals

http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/national/MI131386

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Lady Di is a lovely purebred collie with a pleasant disposition, just like lots of other dogs dumped at shelters in areas that lack anywhere near enough would-be owners. Unlike all but a lucky few of those animals, she got a plane ride away from death row.

...That's when Lady Di met private pilot Jeff Bennett, a volunteer with Pilots N Paws, a group that moves pets from overwhelmed shelters to communities, often ones with higher median income, where they'll stand a better chance of adoption. The pilots donate their time, planes and fuel.

In the Hip Hip Hooray! Category:

Rolling Dog Ranch (in Beautiful Montana) placed third in the country in an online voting contest!  Keep voting so they can keep taking in disabled dogs!

Last time they won Third Prize and that meant winning...

The $3,000 Grant!

Last year they spent about $60,000 on vet bills so that money is very important. (Keep in mind this is one couple that gave up their lives in the world of finance to live on a ranch taking in animals that few would devote this much love to).

This was amazing -- we came in third place nationwide in the Shelter Challenge contest and won $3,000! Thank you for all your votes! They really added up, day after day, and brought in a fabulous grant for the animals at the ranch.

And guess what? The online contest is starting again! Yes, a new round began on September 14th and will run until December 20th. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT for Montana, and it will bring up our listing so you can cast your vote.

Vote in the Shelter Challenge contest here:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces;jsessionid=1669E2C154F3553D42A14C1DA20270F6.ctgProd05?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_home_sidetabs


xoxo

Sophie Goes To Iraq

I do a little soldier support, through an organization called Soldiers' Angels (www.soldiersangels.org) so I relish the chance to combine both my loves, supporting soldiers and anything that concerns dogs. In the future I will be posting more stories that focus on dogs coming home with soldiers, fostering dogs while their soldier-owners are deployed, and the like. I had not considered I would have a chance to post a story like this! Enjoy!

(And, this is a Humane Society dog, so if you read my Michael Vick post, you'll see I'm sore at them but do see the value of much of their work).

Homeless for less than a day, shelter dog Sophie, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd-Queensland heeler mix, was handpicked to accompany the California National Guard, 49th Military Police Brigade, when they deploy to Iraq.

“We are looking for a little bit of home away from home,” said Sgt. Arlyce Baty, of the 49th, stationed in Fairfield. “She will be a morale dog and mascot.”

Sophie came to a local humane society as a result of owner release; they said they were moving and could not keep her. It took her about two hours before she found herself a new home and lifestyle. On Aug. 7, Baty picked up Sophie, and the two headed to New Jersey for three weeks of training. From there, Sophie will accompany Baty and more than 100 soldiers as they head to Kuwait, then on to Iraq.

Sophie was handpicked for the task because she has several qualities that make her perfect for service.“She’s calm, relaxed and well-mannered,” Rogers explained "This is the first time Baty’s brigade will have a dog as part of the unit, she said. “We are really excited that our dog can be of service,” said Casie Jachetta, director of marketing for the Humane Society.

Though Sophie won’t be sniffing out explosives or drugs, she will contribute a much-needed service to soldiers stationed in the Middle East. “She will provide some comfort and companionship to the unit,” Baty said. “This is my second deployment to Iraq. It just might make it a little bit easier having a little piece of home with us.”