Operation Baghdad Pups

I heard about Operation Baghdad Pups on a talk radio show tonight. The story of a soldier who had been with two others when they were killed by an IED. He cried every night, and in order not to disturb the others, he'd go outside. A stray cat began to go to him, to sit on his lap, to lick his face and purr on his lap. This is a part of the animal-human bond we don't often think about -- the healing power of animals in wartime. One soldier said that her working dog, a German shepherd, was "the light of her life." The following was taken from the Baghdad Pup website:


Operation Baghdad Pups began with an email received on September 11, 2007. The desperate words of the U.S. soldier serving in Iraq told of his desire to get the dog, Charlie, he and his regiment had befriended out of the Middle East before their tour of duty ended. Because it is against regulations for troops to befriend an animal or transport one on a military flight, the likelihood of the determined soldiers succeeding alone seemed doubtful. Operation Baghdad Pups began with an email received on September 11, 2007. The desperate words of the U.S. soldier serving in Iraq told of his desire to get the dog, Charlie, he and his regiment had befriended out of the Middle East before their tour of duty ended. Because it is against regulations for troops to befriend an animal or transport one on a military flight, the likelihood of the determined soldiers succeeding alone seemed doubtful.


Members of this Army regiment discovered the dog earlier that summer while patrolling a dangerous neighborhood on the outskirts of Baghdad. The malnourished and flea covered puppy, no bigger than a baked potato, was scooped up by a soldier who felt sorry for the pitiful orphan. Hidden in a tattered blanket, the puppy was snuck onto the Coalition Outpost. As the soldiers took turns secretly caring for the puppy the strong bond between man and dog grew.Members of this Army regiment discovered the dog earlier that summer while patrolling a dangerous neighborhood on the outskirts of Baghdad. The malnourished and flea covered puppy, no bigger than a baked potato, was scooped up by a soldier who felt sorry for the pitiful orphan. Hidden in a tattered blanket, the puppy was snuck onto the Coalition Outpost. As the soldiers took turns secretly caring for the puppy the strong bond between man and dog grew.


“Taking care of Charlie gave me something to look forward to everyday,” one soldier explained. “When all the guys got to playing with him we forgot where we were, the horrible things we had seen, and what we still had to go through. Charlie definitely made our time in Iraq more bearable. He was like a welcomed piece of home right here in the midst of Baghdad.”“Taking care of Charlie gave me something to look forward to everyday,” one soldier explained. “When all the guys got to playing with him we forgot where we were, the horrible things we had seen, and what we still had to go through. Charlie definitely made our time in Iraq more bearable. He was like a welcomed piece of home right here in the midst of Baghdad.”


Abandoning Charlie in this war ravaged country, consumed in hatred and destruction, would have meant certain death for him. “We all made him a promise that we would not give up. We’d find a way somehow to get him to a better life in the states,” the soldier wrote in that first email.


Operation Baghdad Pups has now successfully rescued Charlie and other dogs befriended by our troops, out of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the logistics of moving animals from a war zone to a new home are extremely complicated and expensive. To learn more about these complicated hurdles each Baghdad Pup must overcome, visit the efforts page.




Canine War Hero, Socks, Lands Safely in U.S.
March 13th 2008

I am overjoyed, even speechless, about Socks getting home. He served with us and we didn’t want to leave him behind.


Washington, DC March 13th – Socks put his first paw on U.S. soil this morning at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC. This four-year-old black dog with white paws has been serving U.S. units in Iraq for over 3 years as extra perimeter security at their Coalition Outpost in Western Iraq.

This is the sixth rescue through SPCA International’s Operation Baghdad Pups program. Operation Baghdad Pups is sponsored in part by online pet product retailer, I Love Dogs, Inc.

The unit Socks left behind was excited to hear of his safe arrival today.

“I am overjoyed, even speechless, about Socks getting home. He served with us and we didn’t want to leave him behind. It would almost be like leaving one of my fellow soldiers behind. I’m so glad he’s safe,” explains the U.S. soldier and Savannah, Georgia native who will be adopting Socks when he returns from Iraq.

Socks’ journey from stray to comrade is an amazing tale, but SPCA International and the unit determined not to leave him behind know only part of the story. Socks has been handed off from unit to unit moving through this Coalition Outpost. Each departing unit explains that Socks will be a great asset to the incoming unit and the newly arrived soldiers learn the truth of this declaration very quickly as Socks proves his worth and loyalty.

Socks, an Iraqi mutt from the streets, was given state-of-the-art training by the previous units he befriended and served. At the Coalition Outpost where he lives, the bathrooms are located outside the sleeping quarters. When night falls, Socks remains stationed outside the barrack doors and waits until a soldier needs to visit the facilities. Socks escorts each soldier through the night, ears perked for any sign of danger. Then Socks patiently waits until the soldier is finished and carefully escorts him back to safety inside the barracks.

SPCA International is interested to find out more about Socks’ story and, although he already has a committed home, they hope Socks has the opportunity to be reunited with some of the soldiers who first adopted and trained him when he was just a pup.


Later this week, Socks will travel to Savannah, Georgia to live with the sister of the adoptive soldier until the unit‘s tour concludes and they can be reunited.