Soldier reunites with dog

Rascals likes this story about a border collie mix puppy and a female soldier reunited...

"Three months after shipping her adopted dog, Ratchet, Ratchet, a border collie mix, home from Iraq, Army Specialist Gwen Beberg was reunited with him.

The two were reunited Saturday (Jan 17, 09) as Beberg returned to Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, (after her tour of duty was over in Iraq) the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Beberg adopted Ratchet as a month-old pup after fellow soldiers rescued him from a burning pile of trash in Baghdad, Iraq.

Friends, family and supporters gathered at VFW Post 363 to witness the reunion. I wish every soldier in the world, past, present and future, came home to a welcome like this, Beberg said.

Beberg urged support for Operation Baghdad Pups, a branch of SPCA International that rescues dogs and cats adopted by U.S. military personnel. More than 50 pets have been relocated to the United States.

Although the Army balked at Bebergs plan to send the dog home, Bebergs efforts, and those of Operation Baghdad Pups — along with 70,000 signatures on online petitions and some help from congress — led military officials to loosen the prohibition on U.S. troops adopting pets in Iraq."

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• adopted
• army
• beberg
• dogs
• gwen beberg
• home
• homecoming
• iraq
• military
• minnesota
• operation baghdad pups
• ratchet
• reunion
• reunite
• troops
• video
• war

[yamnjam]

You go girl! This chick toughed it out in Iraq, and all she wanted was a dog in return. It shouldn't take an act of Congress (almost) to let a soldier who did their tour be rewarded. Medals are good, but a good dog and friend, gives back love in a way we non-military people can't fathom. I'm so happy for her. God bless all our military.

[miketheice12]

17 poeple have NO HEART

[kiiiro]

ahh, the good stuff. Great story. 

[809cutie]

awww!

[dancergirl1122]

This is so nice!!!!!

And when they said her last name I thought they said "Bieber".

I screamed.

[art1ej]

awwwwwwwww happy ending...

[MattHeaven]

@sevenonpaper1 Really it doesn't work like that. Not everyone in the military is heartless, I promise (I love animals). We still have to look after the best interest of each service member by not exposing them to things that may hurt them. Not all puppies are disease free and polite. I would love for ever stray animal to be adopted, but we simply don't have the resources to be able to make that happen over here. If one person is allowed, then all have to be allowed. See what I mean?

[MattHeaven]

@63gstone it sounds very easy to do this, but allowing service members to adopt animals opens up a floodgate for animals to give humans diseases, infestations, and even worse physically hurt them on accident. Think if 1 out of 20 people tried to adopt some kind of homeless or wild animal over here. Unfortunately we don't have the resources to be able to do that. I love that this little dog was cared for, and am so glad it worked out in their situation. It just doesn't work all the time...

[1961Beth]

what a gorgeous face on Rachet... hes so happy to be with Sgt Beberg again...

[msmelancholy1]

some happiness out of all of this misery.

[watchensee]

Aww another lucky dog who was saved from the hell over there! {:)