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Reposted from ABC 10 San Diego: https://www.10news.com/news/marine-reunited-with-rescue-dogs-from-iraq

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Three dogs are getting a second chance at life. Wednesday night they were reunited with a local Marine – after months of being apart.

Marine Corps Captain Kyle Watkins has been waiting months to see the dogs he rescued as puppies while stationed in Iraq.

Wendy, Hesco and Rooster were flown to the states to be adopted by Watkins and another Marine with the help of SPCA International and Operation Baghdad Pups.

Watkins says he couldn’t help but feed and care for the dogs, who in turn began to look out for him; their big brown eyes and wagging tails bringing comfort during some rough times.

Two of the dogs will stay with Watkins and his wife on their farm in Temecula, the third will be adopted by another Marine.

Reposted from CBS News 8, San Diego:http://www.cbs8.com/story/38265375/san-diego-marine-reunited-with-dogs-he-met-in-iraq

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) – A San Diego Marine was reunited Wednesday night with the dogs he befriended while serving in Iraq.

The dogs were set to be put down until SPCA International stepped in and rescued them.

The last time Marine Captain Kyle Watkins saw the Iraqi pups was four months ago while serving in Anbar.

Captain Watkins befriended Wendy, Hesco, Rooster and many other dogs who would roam the desert eating trash.

The dogs were never allowed inside the military compound, but they would provide a sense of home for the dog loving Marines.

“You have Marines to the left and right of you. They are great companions, but every now and then you need something comforting from home,” said Captain Watkins.

While Marines would look out, the dogs would also look out for them. “When people would walk around, they would alert us to that. It was comforting to know that you had a team on the outside of wire helping you out,” he said.

The SPCA International and Operation Baghdad Pups were able to coordinate the special deliver that landed Wednesday night at San Diego International Airport.

“The bond that we formed with these animals is just something you do not get buying a puppy off Craigslist,” said Captain Watkins.

Watkins said one of his family’s dog died last year and the two remaining dogs were left to watch over his two children.

“I am glad we could bring them back to the states and give them a good home, some good food, a warm place to sleep at night and give them some love,” he said.

Captain Watkins has been serving for eight years.

SPCA International took care of all the dogs’ medical care and clearance.

Rooster will stay at Captain Watkins’ until Sunday. After, Rooster will be reunited with another Marine at 29 Palms.

Suffering dogs will be RESCUED from Chernobyl Nuclear Exclusion Zone and available for adoption

Unprecedented release of dogs to U.S. based animal welfare groups

 

New York, NY (April 25, 2018) – For the first time ever, the stray dogs living at and around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine will be rescued and permitted to be released for adoption.  This unprecedented event marks an important partnership with the Ukrainian government, which has been reluctant in the past 32 years to allow anything to be removed from the nuclear exclusion zone. 

Just a few weeks ago, Clean Futures Fund (CFF) was given permission to rescue and adopt-out puppies from the Chernobyl nuclear exclusion zone; the site of a 1986 Soviet nuclear reactor accident. CFF and SPCA International (SPCAI) will partner to bring out the first 15 dogs and place them in homes in Ukraine and North America.   

In 2017, thanks to a partnership between Clean Futures Fund and SPCA International, more than 450 animals were tested for radiation exposure, received medical care, vaccinations and were spayed or neutered. The radiation testing revealed that the dogs living in the zone were not harmfully contaminated. Those results paved the way for their rescue and adoption by proving that it is safe to place them in homes.

The first 15 Chernobyl dogs will be available for adoption in June. This week, CFF and SPCAI staffs are on the ground in the exclusion zone and surrounding community laying the ground work for a shelter and temporary veterinary clinic up to help facilitate the adoptions and more spay and neuter surgeries. Only dogs under one year of age will be released from the exclusion zone, and the dogs will go through a 45-day quarantine period in a temporary shelter in the nearby town of Slavutych before being transported to carefully selected homes in Ukraine and North America.

In 1986, Chernobyl, Ukraine was the site of a catastrophic nuclear disaster. Even though it is seen as a wasteland, it is in fact home to more than 1,000 dogs – mostly descendants of the pets of the 120,000 people that were forced to abandon their homes, personal possessions and even their pets during the emergency evacuation in the wake of the 1986 disaster. Ever since that fateful day, the dogs of Chernobyl have suffered, and all too often died, without food, water or veterinary care.  

Anyone interested in adopting a puppy from the Chernobyl Nuclear Exclusion Zone may contact [email protected].

About Clean Futures Fund:

Clean Futures Fund is a U.S. non-profit organization established to raise awareness and provide international support for communities affected by industrial accidents and long-term remedial activities. The Fund identifies and finances humanitarian aid projects and the exchange of information and experiences from affected communities in order to support long-term remedial activities around the world. We are currently focusing our efforts on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the site of the world’s largest nuclear disaster.

About SPCA International:

SPCA International is a global animal welfare organization with a mission that is simple, but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Through outreach, rescue and education programs SPCA International spearheads life-saving initiatives and assists grassroots animal activists worldwide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chem-Dry Partners with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International to Support Pet Rescue Organizations throughout Canada

Leading Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Company to Raise $5,000 to Fund Shelter Support Grants

March 13, 2018// Chem-Dry, the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning company, has announced a partnership with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (SPCAI) to support the organization’s mission of advancing the safety and well-being of animals. With a longstanding dedication to creating safe and healthy environments for pets, Chem-Dry and its Canadian franchise owners will be helping to raise funds toward the company’s goal of donating at least $5,000 to SPCAI. Funds will directly benefit shelters and rescue organizations across Canada.

Founded in 2006, the SPCAI has developed and utilized a worldwide platform that supports independent animal shelters and promotes the safety of animals. SPCAI strives to assist the growth and impact of independent shelters through alliance building, information networking, and national and international programs. With over 65 franchise locations throughout Canada covering all of the major provinces, Chem-Dry is looking to help advance this cause by funding a Shelter Support Grant to aid shelters and companion animal organizations around the country.

“SPCAI does incredible work all around the world to protect animals in need, and we’re proud to be partnering with such a well-respected organization and supporting such an important cause,” said Dan Tarantin, CEO of Harris Research, Inc., parent company of Chem-Dry. “Our shared passion for animals combined with Chem-Dry’s superior array of services that help pet owners maintain a safe and healthy home for their families and their pets made this partnership a natural fit. We’re excited to launch this program, which we’re calling Cleaning for the PAWS, and to begin playing a larger role in the rescue and safety efforts for animals in shelters across Canada.”

With 85 percent of Chem-Dry’s customers owning pets, the brand is dedicated to helping families maintain a happy, healthy home for all family members, including pets. Funds will be raised through social media efforts, participation in local events, promotional offers from in-home service visits with a built-in donation, and most prominently, through the sale of specially marked cans of Chem-Dry World Famous Spot Remover – with each can generating a $1 donation to SPCAI. Direct online donations can also be made at www.Chemdrycares.ca.

Chem-Dry offers a line of safe and effective pet and children-friendly services including its Pet Urine Removal Treatment (P.U.R.T.®), which eliminates the odor as well as the harmful remnants of urine accidents. In recent testing conducted by an independent laboratory, Chem-Dry’s P.U.R.T. process removed an average of 99.9 percent of pet urine odors from carpets and, when used with Chem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process and a sanitizer, removed an average of 99.2 percent of bacteria from pet urine in carpets. An independent lab study also found that Chem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction process removes an average of 98 percent of common household allergens from carpets and upholstery, including dog and cat dander.

“We’re excited to partner with Chem-Dry on a national campaign in Canada and we appreciate their passionate support for our mission,” said Meredith Ayan, Executive Director of SPCAI. “Without support from partners like Chem-Dry, we wouldn’t be able to work as effectively toward our vision of creating a safe, kind world for animals.”

For more information on Chem-Dry or to find a local operator, please visit www.chemdry.ca.

About Chem-Dry

Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry is the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network spanning 55 countries and serving over 11,000 homes and business a day worldwide. Its green-certified solution and proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process provide a deeper clean, allow surfaces to dry faster, and leave homes and workplaces healthier. In addition to being ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 30 consecutive years and ranked among the top 10 concepts in the magazine’s list of Top Home-Based Franchises for 19 consecutive years, Chem-Dry has been ranked as the world’s Best House & Office Franchise in the 2018 Global Franchise Awards. For more information about Chem-Dry and to find a local operator, visit www.chemdry.ca, or for more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.chemdryfranchise.com. Chem-Dry is owned by Harris Research, Inc., which is also the founder and owner of the fast-growing N-Hance Wood Refinishing franchise.

About SPCAI

The mission of SPCA International (www.spcai.org) is simple but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Through outreach, rescue and education programs, SPCA International spearheads lifesaving initiatives and assists grassroots animal activists worldwide.

Media Contact:

Kelly McNamara
Fishman Public Relations
847-945-1300
[email protected]

SOURCE Chem-Dry

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For Immediate Release

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF REUNITING U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WITH PATRIOT PETS

Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide Has Rescued Over 800 Animals Befriended by U.S. Troops on Deployment

New York, NY (February 14, 2018) – Today marks the 10 year anniversary of SPCA International’s (www.spcai.org) first dog rescue through the organization’s groundbreaking program called Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide. On this day in 2008, SPCAI program staff returned from Iraq with a dog named Charlie who had been befriended by a group of U.S. Soldiers, called Charlie Company, during their 2007 deployment in Iraq. Since that fateful day, over 800 more animals have been rescued and reunited with their U.S. service members through this one-of-a-kind program.

In 2007, Charlie was found by Charlie Company on the side of the road and near death during a routine patrol. The Soldiers brought him back to camp in an attempt to make his last hours on earth more comfortable. To their surprise, he not only survived the night but thrived and soon became a part of their unit. Charlie accompanied them on patrol, slept with them, was fed from their MREs, learned commands and played fetch. Within a few months the Soldier who had bonded with Charlie the most, Sgt. Edward Watson, Ret., began searching for a way to bring him home. He emailed SPCA International a desperate plea that touched the hearts of the SPCAI staff and unknowingly opened the door for hundreds of other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and military contractors to rescue the dogs and cats (and one donkey) that they too saved and adore. Today, Charlie resides with Sgt. Watson and his family in Phoenix, AZ.

SPCA International continues to receive regular requests for help from U.S. troops stationed worldwide. Since its inception, Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide has rescued animals for U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Romania, Kosovo, Turkey, Djibouti, Central African Republic and the Philippines.

In February 2018 alone, SPCA International staff and volunteers will rescue 25 dogs and cats for U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East. International rescue operations are always challenging with extensive logistics, safety requirements, animal boarding, and ground and air transportation needs. Although each rescue costs as much as $3,000, Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide is funded by small individual donations averaging just $35 each. For more information visit, www.spcai.org or email us.

About SPCA International
SPCA International is a global animal welfare organization with a mission that is simple, but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Through outreach, rescue and education programs SPCA International spearheads lifesaving initiatives and assists grassroots animal activists worldwide.

This woman wanted to adopt a dog who was imperfect — just like her. She found him 7,000 miles away, but that didn’t stop her from making him her son. ???????? pic.twitter.com/Gy5AUPPu58

— The Dodo (@dodo) February 9, 2018

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