As Marines deploy from San Diego, many are leaving pets behind

Sac Bee ^ | 2/4/03 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(AP) - As Marines at this Southern California base head to the Middle East and other hot spots around the world, many are being forced to part with man's best friend.

The animal shelter at the San Diego County military base is near capacity with cats and dogs left behind by Marines. The situation is so dire that workers are running ads in local newspapers and tacking up fliers at animal care centers in nearby cities.

[NormsRevenge]

If you can help, Please do! Thanks.

Don't let the pets left behind be victims of Saddam.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Pets: 1,483
Kids: 0

[Blood of Tyrants]

I never thought of having to leave pets behind. Perhaps some kind hearted souls would be willing to house the pets while their owners are gone.

[Slyfox]

There was an article yesterday on FR which was about the importation of animals from I think Puerto Rico, because the campaign to spay and neuter animals in the US has been so successful that the shelters are running out of dogs.

[Slyfox]

Here it is

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, I'm surprised that someone hasn't organized a program to find temporary foster homes for service people's pets. Are there some Freepers with military contacts who could give it a try? Just imagine the extra boost to morale to service people out in the thick of things, if they could get messages updating them on the welfare of their pets, safe in good foster homes, and know their pets would be waiting for them when they got back.

In the Internet age, it seems like this wouldn't be too hard to organize. If it does happen, sign me up for one cat.

[RepublicanHippy]

On one of the morning shows last week I saw some people from a group called PATRIOTIC PETS. They are volunteers who are taking in people's pets who have been deployed. I think they have a website!!! There is another thread on FR about this issue too.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Do you have the website link and/or FR thread link?

[RepublicanHippy]

The foster parents of these pets plan to return the pets to their owners when they come home.

[GovernmentShrinker]

This http://www.patrioticpets.org/ is the website for Patriotic Pets, the organization which finds temporary homes for pets of deployed service people. Go for it!

[DonQ]

One of the problems is that these servicemen and their families were living in the military community and hardly knew anyone else. Virtually everyone they know is either being activated and mobilized (or likely to be mobilized before they can return for their pets), or else moving someplace (like grandma's) while daddy goes to war.

This is not exactly a new problem. The famous British Light Brigade, immortalized in Tennyson's poem, was mostly riding unfamiliar mounts ... they had been brought to the Crimea from Turkey in boats so cramped that they had been forced to leave their trained mounts behind, and most of those horses simply starved to death tethered to the docks.

[RepublicanHippy]

"Do you have the website link and/or FR thread link?"


www.patrioticpets.org

[NormsRevenge]

EXCELLENT!!!

www.PATRIOTICPETS.org

Thanks for the link info! FR Rocks! :-)

EATB. Can you (and anyone else who will) please use your ping list for the pets of Marines that are being left behind? Thanks.

[NormsRevenge]

Repost of bad link in previous post .. Oopps!!

www.PATRIOTICPETS.org

[RepublicanHippy]

FYI about this thread

[GovernmentShrinker]

Another thought: Taking in a pet isn't something everyone can do, but I see a possible big opportunity for someone with good computer/website construction skills to help Patriotic Pets. Their current system is print out the form, fill it out, and mail it to them. Can some techie freeper help them build an online form, and maybe even database system, to speed up the process? Some of these pets don't have much time . . .

[RepublicanHippy]

We could all contact our local Humane Societies to let them know about www.patrioticpets.org.

[JudyB1938]

I just sent the link to a whole bunch of people and asked them to help spread the word. Hopefully, others here will do the same. Thank you for the info!

I already have 4 cats and a St Bernard. So you can see as well as loving our military, I love animals. This program benefits BOTH!

[FeliciaCat]

Thanks for the link! I just sent it to my friends & family...

[RepublicanHippy]

How about calling local TV and radio stations in your area to let them know. Ask for foster parents to step forward.