No Buddy Gets Left Behind

Operation Baghdad Pups began with an email received on September 11, 2007. The desperate words of the U.S. soldier serving in Iraq told of his desire to get the dog, Charlie, he and his regiment had befriended out of the Middle East before their tour of duty ended. Because it is against regulations for troops to befriend an animal or transport one on a military flight, the likelihood of the determined soldiers succeeding alone seemed doubtful.

Members of this Army regiment discovered the dog earlier that summer while patrolling a dangerous neighborhood on the outskirts of Baghdad. The malnourished and flea covered puppy, no bigger than a baked potato, was scooped up by a soldier who felt sorry for the pitiful orphan. Hidden in a tattered blanket, the puppy was snuck onto the Coalition Outpost. As the soldiers took turns secretly caring for the puppy the strong bond between man and dog grew.

“Taking care of Charlie gave me something to look forward to everyday,” one soldier explained. “When all the guys got to playing with him we forgot where we were, the horrible things we had seen, and what we still had to go through. Charlie definitely made our time in Iraq more bearable. He was like a welcomed piece of home right here in the midst of Baghdad.”

Abandoning Charlie in this war ravaged country, consumed in hatred and destruction, would have meant certain death for him. “We all made him a promise that we would not give up. We’d find a way somehow to get him to a better life in the states,” the soldier wrote in that first email.

How could SPCA International not intervene?

Operation Baghdad Pups has now successfully rescued Charlie and other dogs befriended by our troops, out of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the logistics of moving animals from a war zone to a new home are extremely complicated and expensive. To learn more about these complicated hurdles each Baghdad Pup must overcome, visit the efforts page.

With each rescue, the Operation Baghdad Pups team repeatedly beats the odds, but the challenges are still very much a reality. Soon after Charlie’s rescue, SPCA International heard from many more military personnel in Iraq hoping for assistance. Before long, SPCA International had over 35 active cases and that number continues to grow daily.

Every case is funded from generous donations from people like you.

Every animal in the Operation Baghdad Pups program must already have a home in the states before being accepted. SPCA International carefully screens the soldier to make sure they are aware of the potential challenges they and their families might face as the dog or cat they have befriended adjusts to living in a real home and no longer in the middle of a war zone.

Operation Baghdad Pups has a lot more work to do and we need YOUR help! Please join us, and commit to helping us save more animals while saying, “Thank You!” to our troops for making it possible for us to remain free and safe.

Your donation WILL make a difference!

Operation Baghdad Pups does not just save animals; it also brings comfort and peace of mind to our troops. The SPCA International team has had the pleasure of getting to know many of the animals we have rescued. They are smart, resilient, inquisitive, playful and we believe they are grateful for the opportunity to live without fear in the United States.

An email we received from one soldier says it all, “I have sacrificed a lot to serve my country. All that I ask in return is to be allowed to bring home the incredible dog that wandered into my life here in Iraq and prevented me from becoming terribly callous towards life.”

Be a part of allowing these incredible bonds to continue! Donate now!

How to Help an Animal

Resources for Soldiers:

• Operation Baghdad Pup Criteria
• Contact SPCA International about your story

Resources for Civilians Who Want to Help:

• Donate

• Operation Baghdad Pups wish list
• Contact us to organize your community group and sponsor an Operation Baghdad Pups Rescue
• Tell your friends!

*Foster Homes: We do not need foster homes. If you are interested in fostering a homeless animal please contact your local shelter.

*Adoptions: Every Operation Baghdad Pups rescue already has a committed home. If you are interested in adopting a homeless animal, we encourage you to visit your local shelter.

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