Iraqi dogs
I heard back from Kaye Zigrand, a local resident who also happens to be on the board of Tippi Hedren's Roar Foundation.
Kaye told me about another worthy charity - one that will not only help animals, but also bring cheer to people who serve in the military.
It seems Kaye's son is currently serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. During his first tour, Sgt. Daniel U. Nelson befriended an abandoned dog. Stray dogs aren't an uncommon site in Iraq, where they can be seen roaming the streets and countryside.
When the men and women come home, they often have to leaved their new pets behind. But a group, Baghdad Pups is working to bring the animals back to the United States.
This is from their Web site:
Our hearts never fully recover from the loss of a beloved pet. The bond we share with the pets we love is stronger than even death, and the grief we experience at their passing lasts years if not for the rest of our lives. We can never really forget those animals that have touched our hearts and made life more enjoyable with their companionship, playfulness, and unconditional love.
Now imagine that, not death nor sickness, but circumstances dictate that you and your pet must be separated FOREVER. Not only that, but you must leave your healthy pet behind in a hostile environment where its chance of survival is minimal and likelihood of abuse and cruel treatment are all but guaranteed. That is what some of our brave soldiers stationed in the Middle East face today. But the bond our soldiers have formed with these companion animals doesn’t have to be severed this way. Something can be done...
If you're not a dog lover, look at it this way: You're not only helping the animals, you're helping the men and women who served in our armed forces.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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