The Senior Dogs Project "Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."
..........."Looking Out for Older Dogs" ...........
- Sydney Jeanne Seward
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Blue's soldier coming home soon.... Military Mascots will continue to send care packs for Blue and pups...... |
| September 30, 2004 -- Military Mascots has just written to tell us that they are continuing to send Blue's soldier care packs of food, flea/tick products, and toys for Blue and the pups. The family that has adopted Blue and the pups (see earlier notes, below) has now successfully had all the dogs vaccinated. The last obstacle is to have them spayed/neutered. This has not been an easy goal, due to the locale and issues of safety. Military Mascots will continue to send care packs as long as there is a soldier who will deliver boxes to them and sponsors to help defray expenses. We know that this will be critical to the family that has adopted Blue and the pups, and that it will continue to raise the morale of the soldiers who loved and cared for the dogs.
Bonnie Buckley of Military Mascots writes: "Blue's soldier will be redeploying for home before long. I wish him and his unit well. He has assured me he will try to locate a contact for me to send packs so Blue and his pups can still have some goodies and supplies sent their way. I would be thrilled if I could just get them altered before he heads for home. I would feel my mission to help this soldier will have been accomplished then, since he will not be having Blue come home with him." |
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Blue and pups are thriving...... |
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September 14, 2004 -- The most recent message from Blue's soldier reports: "Blue is doing quite well with N. and his family and has turned into a real guard dog. According to N., he is very protective of his new home when strange people come around the house. He thought that Blue needed companionship, so he went out and got a dog named Lena for him. (Can you believe this!) The puppies are being cared for by a friend of N. who runs a kind of a petting farm. He says the puppies are very popular and are getting big. He says he's going to bring me some pictures soon of Blue and Lena." Gracie is caught and killed...... July 20, 2004 -- We had this sad report from Blue's soldier a few days ago: "Vector control got to Gracie while I was on a week of guard duty. Blue and the puppies have been safe and off the base for a few weeks now. N. was able to take them, but unfortunately was unable to keep Gracie, as so many dogs were a handful. I sent the youngest to safety first and thought I would have time and some warning before they actually made an attempt to get Gracie. I try to tell myself it was for the better because she was old and would have kept having litter after litter unless I got her fixed. This doesn't make it any easier though, as she was such a sweet dog." Blue, Gracie and Pups staying in Iraq for now...... Blue's soldier had been trying to arrange spay surgery for Gracie. He thought it would be best to keep Blue and Gracie apart until she could have the surgery. Unfortunately, arranging for such surgery is no easy task in Iraq in general, and, in particular, in these difficult times. We are all depressed about the loss of Gracie.....most of all Blue's soldier. But we are also grateful that he and N. have been able to keep Blue and the puppies safe. June 28, 2004 -- Military Mascots has begun sending care packages for Blue, Gracie and the Pups. The first packages arrived on June 25, and included food, treats, toys, and medicines. Blue's soldier wrote: "I received your care packages for the dogs yesterday and gave them to N. today. Thank you so much; he was very grateful and wanted me to thank you on his behalf also. I'm so glad there are people like you in the world who realize how important something like this is to our morale over here."
June 13, 2004 -- After Blue's soldier wrote on June 8 to report that the round-up and shooting of strays at his post had again started up in earnest, he began to pursue the possibility of getting Blue, Grace, and her two pups to the U.S. as soon as possible. Among the most important considerations was the heat in that part of the world at this time of year. Extremely high temperatures meant there was the danger the dogs could suffer heat exhaustion, should there be any kind of delay on the ground before boarding the plane. It seemed prudent that the soldier try to find an arrangement that would not subject them to this danger. Blue's soldier, who is not only a dog-lover but also a true humanitarian, has befriended a number of Iraqi citizens in the area of his post. He is nothing short of a good will ambassador, inspiring cooperation among the Americans and the Iraqis who live nearby. Since he has been so friendly and helpful to the local Iraqis, when he asked for help to save the dogs, his plea was answered. A "safe house" has been found where Blue, Gracie, and the pups can stay -- perhaps permanently, but at least until the weather is cooler. Many people have already contributed to defray the costs of veterinary care and transport for the dogs. We have not yet met the goal of at least $3,000 (to include transport), and are still in need of funds to cover basic veterinary care. We are also looking into the possibility of spay/neuter surgery for the dogs, once their health has been stabilized. Your support of our troops by contributing to help Blue, Gracie and her two pups has been invaluable in keeping up their morale. Contributions are very welcome, and will be used for continued veterinary care and potentially for transport, should that be deemed in the dogs' best interests in the future. Your contribution can be sent directly to the organization coordinating help for the dogs -- Military Mascots. Please designate your donation for "Blue and family." |
 Blue awaits his soldier each morning, just beside the vehicle in which the soldier will go on that day's mission. |
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Background on this situation: |
Blue's "girlfriend" Gracie and her two pups, who had been living in a little cave at the edge of the post. "Little Boy Blue" is topmost in the photo.