In The News: Recent Happenings
26 Soldiers’ Animals Safely on American Soil June 6th 2008
We hope all Americans will join our efforts and help us continue these vital missions for our troops.
Newark, NJ, June 6 – Today a crowd of SPCA International volunteers, FedEx employees, public servants, elected officials and animal lovers gathered at Newark International Airport to welcome home 26 U.S. soldiers’ companion animals who arrived from Iraq on June 5, 2008. This is the seventh successful mission for Operation Baghdad Pups, a SPCA International initiative created to provide medical care, clearance and transport for the animals our soldiers have come to love during deployment in the Middle East. These 24 dogs and 2 cats were saved in the nick of time before heat restrictions on animal airline travel condemned them to sure death on the streets of Iraq.
This impressive logistical feat, moving 26 animals from the war zone to new homes in the U.S., was orchestrated by SPCA International, but was only successful thanks to help from multiple patriotic parties. These contributors include:
FedEx: Provided the animals free transport from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Newark International Airport,
Gryphon Airlines: Coordinated a chartered flight to transport the animals from Baghdad, Iraq to Dubai,
Threat Management Group (TMG): Transported soldiers’ animals from multiple regions of Iraq to Baghdad Airport,
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Provided safe, temporary shelter facility on the Newark Airport grounds, as well as supplies and maintenance support,
LA Police Gear: Donated two airline tickets to the Middle East,
Mayor Cory A. Booker, Newark, NJ: Provided support and resources on the ground in Newark,
New Jersey Assemblyman Neil Cohen: Provided support and resources on the ground in Newark,
I Love Dogs, Inc: Ongoing Operation Baghdad Pups sponsors.
“SPCA International is grateful for the outpouring of help from all these supporters,” Stephanie Scroggs, SPCA International Director of Communications.
The animals and two SPCA International escorts left Baghdad on Monday, June 2nd and flew to Dubai where they had a layover before leaving on Wednesday, June 4th. From there they flew through two brief stops in France and the United Kingdom, finally arriving at their American destination, Newark Liberty International Airport, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Thursday, June 05, 2008.
“This is SPCA International’s 7th successful Operation Baghdad Pups mission,” explains Scroggs. “Having rescued 41 animals, we are steadfast in our belief that we must continue to give our soldiers the ability to keep the dogs and cats that grow to mean so much to them during their time at war. We hope all Americans will join our efforts by visiting www.SPCA.com and help us continue these vital missions for our troops.”
All the animals will be picked up or flown to their final destinations around the country over the weekend. Each animal rescued by Operation Baghdad Pups is adopted by one of the soldiers who befriended them in Iraq. To date, SPCA International has rescued 41 animals for our military men and women. Each week they receive multiple new requests and they plan to assist soldiers through the program indefinitely.
SPCA International’s (www.SPCA.com) mission is to raise awareness of the abuse of animals to a global level, to teach and foster good pet parenting practices, and to promote spay and neuter programs around the world with the goal of eradicating the need to euthanize healthy and adoptable companion animals.
