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Release Ratchet from Iraq Now!

Release Ratchet from Iraq Now!

Target:
Animal Welfare and Military
Sponsored by: 

On October 1st the millitary confiscated Ratchet from the soldier who loves and cares for him just hours before he was to be rescued by SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups program.  

Sign this petition and demand that the military release this innocent friend to SPCA International (http://www.spca.com/)!


 Gwen with 'lifeline' Ratchet in IraqRatchet as a puppy: An international campaign has now been set up to save the Army's mind


On October 1st, the United States military committed a crime against their own mentally wounded U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.  Commanding officers ordered the confiscation of a dog, Ratchet, befriended by a group of soldiers during a 15th month of deployment. Ratchet has been a lifeline to Sgt. Gwen Beberg. This morning, Ratchet was on his way to SPCA International rescue experts at the Baghdad Airport to be flown home to Gwen's parents in Minneapolis, MN when Sgt. Beberg's commanding officers ordered Ratchet confiscated and held in Iraq to face certain death.

%u201CThis year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen.  Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death.  I don't know how my daughter will cope.  Ratchet has been her lifeline,%u201D explains Sgt. Beberg's mother, Patricia Beberg. Gwen Beberg, a decorated soldier, has been held by the military more than 15 months past her original commitment due to the stop-loss policy and now the military that asked extraordinary sacrifice from her has crushed her by ripping her lifeline away.  Now, Sgt. Beberg is under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life.

It is against military regulations for active duty troops to befriend animals - Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

The military refuses to help or formally recognize the lifeline these animals give to our mentally wounded soldiers. Veterans returned from Iraq are committing suicide at twice the rate of average Americans.  The dogs and cats befriended by our troops rescued by Operation Baghdad Pups are providing proven pet therapy to soldiers who may otherwise suffer from PTSD and deep depression.

Operation Baghdad Pups is a SPCA International (http://www.spca.com/) program created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for the animals our U.S. soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East.

Donate Today: http://www.SPCA.com/


Call or email:
Tell these elected officials to make the military release Ratchet to SPCA International for safe travel to the US:


Senator Klobuchar

http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm

Senator Norm Coleman

http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices

Congressman Keith Ellison

http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45

On October 1st the millitary confiscated Ratchet from the soldier who loves and cares for him just hours before he was to be rescued by SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups program.  

Sign this petition and demand that the military release this innocent friend to SPCA International (http://www.spca.com/)!


 Gwen with 'lifeline' Ratchet in IraqRatchet as a puppy: An international campaign has now been set up to save the Army's mind


On October 1st, the United States military committed a crime against their own mentally wounded U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq.  Commanding officers ordered the confiscation of a dog, Ratchet, befriended by a group of soldiers during a 15th month of deployment. Ratchet has been a lifeline to Sgt. Gwen Beberg. This morning, Ratchet was on his way to SPCA International rescue experts at the Baghdad Airport to be flown home to Gwen's parents in Minneapolis, MN when Sgt. Beberg's commanding officers ordered Ratchet confiscated and held in Iraq to face certain death.

%u201CThis year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen.  Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death.  I don't know how my daughter will cope.  Ratchet has been her lifeline,%u201D explains Sgt. Beberg's mother, Patricia Beberg. Gwen Beberg, a decorated soldier, has been held by the military more than 15 months past her original commitment due to the stop-loss policy and now the military that asked extraordinary sacrifice from her has crushed her by ripping her lifeline away.  Now, Sgt. Beberg is under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life.

It is against military regulations for active duty troops to befriend animals - Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East befriend animals in the war zone to help themselves cope with the hardship and terror they face every day. These dogs and cats become their lifeline - saving them from deep depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

The military refuses to help or formally recognize the lifeline these animals give to our mentally wounded soldiers. Veterans returned from Iraq are committing suicide at twice the rate of average Americans.  The dogs and cats befriended by our troops rescued by Operation Baghdad Pups are providing proven pet therapy to soldiers who may otherwise suffer from PTSD and deep depression.

Operation Baghdad Pups is a SPCA International (http://www.spca.com/) program created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for the animals our U.S. soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East.

Donate Today: http://www.SPCA.com/


Call or email:
Tell these elected officials to make the military release Ratchet to SPCA International for safe travel to the US:


Senator Klobuchar

http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm

Senator Norm Coleman

http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Offices

Congressman Keith Ellison

http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=45

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We signed the "Release Ratchet from Iraq Now!" petition!
# 7,240:
1:57 am PDT, Apr 7, Name not displayed, Philippines
Please release her....
# 7,239:
11:12 am PST, Mar 6, Polly Pallatino, United Kingdom
# 7,238:
6:42 am PST, Feb 27, Renata Almeida, Brazil
big shame on this!
# 7,237:
4:56 pm PST, Feb 23, Chum R, Canada
# 7,236:
3:47 pm PST, Feb 14, Kimberly Willey, Maine
# 7,235:
8:39 pm PST, Feb 7, Anne Freeman, Maine
Please release Rachet from Iraq!! I cannot believe the sorrow that Gwen is feeling.
# 7,234:
7:47 am PST, Feb 2, Ivonne Maldonado, Florida
# 7,233:
10:18 am PST, Jan 18, Elaine Corne, Louisiana
This is the most cruel thing I have ever heard of and the military should be ashame of themselves for taking this young womans lifeline away from her. If they killed this animal they should be punished. What is our military coming to when they go this far to be so inhumane.
# 7,232:
6:27 am PST, Jan 18, Leeanna Simons, Minnesota
Dear All, There is NOTHING, no explanation, no logic to account for the decision of the US military to confiscate this creature & prohibit its continued relationship with Gwen. Aside from the special relationship that exists between humans and animals, dogs in this case--RATCHET and GWEN, and their special bond, kind, loving, benevolent, INTERDEPENDENT stands for everything that the US pretends it is doing in IRAQ. How shaming is story would be if it hadn't been for the perseverance of this incredible woman, her family, and her wonderful friends!
# 7,231:
6:02 pm PST, Jan 16, Terry West, West Virginia
# 7,230:
5:10 pm PST, Jan 12, Joanna Carnes, Texas
# 7,229:
9:04 pm PST, Jan 11, Merissa Hatcher, Kentucky
# 7,228:
4:37 pm PST, Dec 31, Kris Berg, Idaho
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" -Gandhi
# 7,227:
5:51 am PST, Dec 3, Liz Casey, Canada
# 7,226:
9:04 am PST, Nov 29, Lori Fruth, Texas
For the love of God, hasn't there been enough pain and suffering?
# 7,225:
9:21 pm PST, Nov 26, Chris Crooks, Louisiana
# 7,224:
11:53 pm PST, Nov 20, Theresa Esparza, California
for all animal's sake bring back Ratchet!!! He belongs here where he will be safe in the US and not killed in Iraq. For god's sake or shall you bastards all burn in hell for not bring that innocent dog back. And you all know who you are.. sincerely, Theresa Marie Esparza (Proud Animal Activist and Lover of all Animals)
# 7,223:
9:16 am PST, Nov 19, Tony Johnson, Kansas
The government and military needs a little lesson in humanity and in how to raise moral.
# 7,222:
8:53 am PST, Nov 19, Jessica Zahn, Kansas
Please allow this dog to come to the United States were he has a family (his soldier's family) waiting on him. PTSD and other issues are a real problem for our troops, and one never knows how much this dog did to help this soldier. Spare the dog and let him come home to America!!!
# 7,221:
8:12 am PST, Nov 18, Monika Surdy, Poland
# 7,220:
7:14 pm PST, Nov 15, Paula Dayan, Canada
You should think that they are as innocent as a child. Now, you woulnd't hurt a child, would you? Would you send a child to war just to keep your soldiers company?
# 7,219:
12:43 pm PST, Nov 15, Marcia Keefe, Florida
# 7,218:
1:12 am PST, Nov 14, Mairead Ni chathmhaoil, Ireland
# 7,217:
1:11 pm PST, Nov 11, Name not displayed, Missouri
# 7,216:
6:53 am PST, Nov 10, Kim LeRose, New Jersey
Cruelty like this makes me sick that I am part of a society that would do this. As if the war isn't bad enough our own people have to act like something less than the dirt on your shoe. It disgusts me to know that people like this who would do this to a soldier and a dog are out there representing Americans. Now I understand why foreigh countries have the opinion of us that they do.
# 7,215:
8:53 pm PST, Nov 9, Kelly Hughart, California
# 7,214:
4:55 pm PST, Nov 8, Indira Viridiana Martinez Gamez, Mexico
# 7,213:
7:01 pm PST, Nov 7, Marna Alexander, Florida
I believe that he has loved and cared for him in this time of need and they should not be separated....this is so small but so great in the grand scheme of things and the loss should stop here. God Bless all.
# 7,212:
7:54 am PST, Nov 7, Elizabeth K. Yarbrough, Texas
I am a dog lover and what harm would it do too bring this pup home and out of harms way? He has a right too live, If he has helped this women cope with life over there then he deserves too stay with her.
# 7,211:
7:29 pm PST, Nov 5, Mikel Scholten, Minnesota
# 7,210:
7:07 pm PST, Nov 5, Ann Straley, Iowa
Please release this beautiful dog to SPCA International. You will be making a decision to allow him to have a good life.
# 7,209:
9:37 am PST, Nov 5, Joan Rodriguez, California
# 7,208:
9:29 am PST, Nov 5, Sharon Fortner, Tennessee
Please help aid the animal effort by helping Ratchet come home to the land of the free.
# 7,207:
8:03 am PST, Nov 5, Christina Godwin, North Carolina
I think that animals are the best medicine for someone who is sick or hurt. I can't believe these people can just shoot the animals like that. They should get in trouble for cruelty to animals and then some! These soldiers are risking their lives. I don''t see any harm in them having a pet. I hope she gets her dog back and when she does, I would surely sue her superior!
# 7,206:
8:03 am PST, Nov 4, LINDA CUMINOTTI, Tennessee
WHY WOULD SOMEONE KEEP THAT POOR INNOCENT PUPPY AWAY FROM THE LOVE AND CARE HE HAS WITH HIS NEW OWNER. PLEASE RELEASE RATCHET HOME TO BE THE U.S. TO BE WITH THIS CARING OWNER. HE NEEDS TO BE OUT OF HARM'S WAY.
# 7,205:
6:05 am PST, Nov 4, Sandra Zajac, New York
# 7,204:
4:26 pm PST, Nov 3, Denny Daley, Michigan
# 7,203:
1:58 pm PST, Nov 3, Gregory Keeling, Tennessee
Saving a life is always a good thing. Bring this puppy home to live a better life!!!
# 7,202:
9:30 am PST, Nov 3, Olga Novosel Bujas, Austria
# 7,201:
9:25 am PST, Nov 3, Damir Bujas, Austria
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