Through the Operation Baghdad Pups program, SPCA International has rescued the dogs and cats of over 100 U.S. service members who were deployed in the Middle East. Each has a compelling, uplifting story; however, due to security concerns we cannot share all of them online. We encourage you to read the stories below and check back often for updates. You also may want to visit the Rescue Missions photo gallery to see the faces of all of the patriot pets rescued through this vital program.
RALPHIE
Ralphie was found by a soldier, Bobby, while out on a mission. He rescued him from a group of children who were kicking and throwing him like a ball. Bobby was able to get him from the children by trading him for some bottled water and Gatorade. Bobby brought Ralphie home for about a week, when they found out they could not keep him at their FOB. This is when Bobby brought Ralphie to his friend, Courtney, to care for. Read more...
IRAQI
While waiting in a long line to pick up aircraft parts, Alishia Lleitheiser, an Army Specialist, befriended a puppy she spotted playing along the side of the road. For hours, while she would wait her turn to pick up the supplies her crew needed, she would play with the happy joyful puppy. Normally a dangerous and monotonous task, Alishia looked forward every return and started signing up for every trip that came available. She called the puppy Iraqi. Read more...
MOODY
One day, Byran and some other soldiers in his camp were discussing a very dirty puppy they saw running around their barracks. For fun, they decided to launch “Operation Puppy Snatch” to capture him and get him clean. But, before they got to complete their fun and games mission, a tragic and serious incident occurred and 5 soldiers in the group were killed by an IED. The remaining soldiers immediately found the puppy and started taking care of him. He became one of their own in an instant. Read more...
BEATRICE
Beatrice lived on a camp in Baghdad with a company of soldiers who befriended her. Beatrice brought them piece of mind and comfort during their long days. They loved to play with her. Beatrice helped them by being a furry friend through good times and bad. That’s when they soldiers contacted SPCA International. They couldn’t leave Beatrice behind because she was family now. SPCA International added her to their growing list of Operation Baghdad Pups animals that needed to be rescued from Iraq before summer. Read more...
PATTON
Patton was found while his soldier’s tanker unit was en route back to their Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Iraq. The tanker unit saw what looked like a piece of plastic by the side of the road. They approached the small object cautiously, but soon realized it was just a tiny puppy and not a piece of plastic. The puppy was so small he looked like he had just been born. His eyes hadn’t opened yet and he was covered in fleas. The unit of soldiers could see that he would not survive long without some really special TLC. Read more...
THOR
Thor was befriended in January, 2008, by a unit serving at a Combat Outpost (COP) north of Baghdad. He arrived one day young, malnourished and flea ridden, but he took to the soldiers quickly and they took to him. The soldiers started Thor on a regular diet and as time went by he began gaining weight and looking more healthy. Read more...
MIKI
Miki found her soldiers, Catrina and Phoebe, one day in November while the soldiers were working in the mailroom at a Forward Operating Base east of Baghdad. Miki just walked right thru the door like she owned the place, meowing and rubbing up against Catrina’s legs. For months, Catrina and Phoebe fed her and gave her love. Miki would often go visit other soldiers too, but she always came back to them. Read more...
KUJO
Matt, a U.S. Marine serving in Iraq, and his unit came across two puppies in the street while on patrol one day. One had been shot and was lying dead, the other who seemed to be a liter mate, was just wandering aimlessly around the other. The puppy was no more than 2 or 3 weeks old. Matt could not leave the little guy to fend for himself after they saw what had happened to his brother, so the Marines brought the puppy back to their base. They named him Kujo after the dog featured in the Steven King novel, Cujo. Read more...
JASMINE
Jasmine was the sole survivor when her mother and two litter mates were accidentally killed during a fire fight. Just a tiny kitten sitting dazed in the ruins of a destroyed home, the soldiers who found her could not leave her behind.
Jasmine is now about two years old and has been traveling Iraq with the same group of soldiers ever since. As the soldiers got their orders for home, once again they knew they could not leave her behind. Read more...
HOPE
Hope is a beautiful calico kitten who was discovered by Bruce, an American contractor who works in Northern Iraq, this past October when she jumped out of a truck’s engine compartment where she had been hiding for over 30km. Crying and badly burned on her front left leg, Bruce, with the help of a security medic liaison officer, attempted to treat her wound. Read more...
