holiday gift ideas

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Pets in Peril as US Soldiers Leave Syria – You Can Help

My name is Daniel Rindone, and I’m writing to ask for your help. You see, I am a former Army Special Operations Non-Commissioned Officer who saved a dog from Syria last year with SPCA International’s help.

Today, dozens of other soldiers – including the one in this photo – are anxiously waiting to have their pets saved. Please donate $55 now to help them.  Any amount would be helpful!

You’ve seen the headlines. During the last month, U.S. soldiers have been rapidly pulling out of Syria. Those who thought they had months left at their location, were told they would be shipping out in days.

A flood of requests to save camp mascots and battle buddies have come in to us from these soldiers. These brave men and women have scrambled to deliver their dogs and cats into SPCA International’s care. But I would like to share the words of just one soldier with you. He has asked that we don’t share his photo, name or other identifying information because there could be serious ramifications for him.

Email from U.S. Army Soldier Deployed in Syria:
My name is  XXX . I’m a   XXXX  Syria, leaving behind our Kurdish friends. It is an order that will haunt me for the rest of my life. From our camp along the   XXXX we drove 6 hours to XXXX . It was there that I met up with a linguist friend,     XXXX , who was serving with our headquarters at the XXXx ; he had rescued a puppy.

When orders came for them to evacuate, their site was absolute chaos. The entire camp was set on fire and they left early when mortar rounds began to cook off in a warehouse only 100 meters away. They were not able to take even their own belongings, but he was able to get this pup out and he brought her to XXXXX . I told him that I had rescued a dog from Afghanistan years prior and he asked me to promise to get her to XXXx and take her to the states, I told him I would do my best.

I wasn’t able to help my Kurdish friends who I had become so close to over these past 5 months, the friends that I had shared meals with and joked and sang and danced with, so I’m really hoping to save this puppy from everything she would be subject to. She looks to be about 7-8 weeks old. I just made a 17-hour drive with her in the truck from XXX and arrived in XXX 2 hours ago. If there is anything I can do to get this puppy home please let me know because I don’t want to break my promise to a friend, and I assure you she will have a great life in the United States with my other two dogs.

PLEASE HELP NOW

I know this email seems unbelievable. But I assure you it is real. When I read this message, it cut straight to my heart and I knew it needed to be shared with you. Thank you for reading and thank you for considering a donation this Veterans Day to help this solider…and so many more.

Gratefully,

Daniel Rindone
SPCA International Board Member
Former Army Special Operations Non-Commissioned Officer

PS: With the huge influx of animals, the upcoming weeks will be extremely costly and complicated, but we can’t leave these animals behind. The soldiers and their pets are counting on your generosity. Please, donate today.

Note: All donations received will be immediately used to rescue animals from Syria. After which, any excess will be directed to help other military service members, veterans and their pets through SPCAI’s programs Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide and Operation Military Pets.

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Bring Comfort to a Cold Dog … &… Bring a Soldier’s Rescued Dog Home from War … Two gift ideas

Two gift ideas for people in your life who love animals and want to make an impact.

Bring Comfort to a Cold Dog

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Dogs left outside without protection suffer terribly during the winter.

You can change the life of a chained dog who doesn’t have shelter from winter weather. Become an “Angel for Animals” sponsor, or contribute whatever amount you wish, and a sturdy doghouse will be delivered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to a “backyard dog” to help her/her survive frigid weather.

Each sturdy doghouse has an entrance covered by a flap to keep the interior dry.   For many of these lonely animals this will be the first real shelter that they’d ever had.   http://bit.ly/17Xxsfp

Bring a Soldier’s Rescued Dog Home from Iraq or Afghanistan

“My best friend, Iram, is alive and here at my side because of you.  SPCA International sent their Operation Baghdad Pups (OBP) rescue team to Iraq to save the puppy my soldiers rescued one day from a burning, abandoned car.  Iram was my comfort, my strength, my joy during my third long and lonely 15 month deployment in Iraq.  He saved me – and SPCA International made it possible for me to save him.”
Sergeant Major David Dantzler, USA Ret

Operation Baghdad Pups

“U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan befriend local animals as a way to help cope with the emotional hardships they endure every day while deployed in a war zone.  The Operation Baghdad Pups program provides veterinary care and coordinates complicated logistics and transportation requirements in order to reunite these beloved pets with their service men and women back in the U.S. These important animals not only help our heroes in the war zone, but they also help them readjust to life back home after combat.”

Please consider a gift/donation to SPCA International – Operation Baghdad Pups    http://bit.ly/17XIWPZ


Photos and illustrations from PETA and SPCA International