No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home From the Combat Zone (30 page)

Tippy, Bev's kitchen assistant, waiting for a meal in Baghdad Bev Westerman

"Things here are so different," Bev said as the sweat dripped off her brow. "It makes you realize how much we take for granted at home. It's no wonder soldiers talk about always being on edge. I can see why now."

"Did something happen?" I asked.

"No. But did you see the signs on the sides and back of the SLG vehicles?" Bev continued chopping as she talked. ""They were bilingual notices in big, bold lettering."

"You mean the `STAY BACK 100 METERS' warning?"

"Yep. One of the guys translated the Arabic words for me. I don't know if he was pulling my leg or not, but after the order to stay back one hundred meters, the Arabic version contains the addendum, `OR YOU WILL BE SHOT."'

"Do you think they really mean that?" I asked, stunned.

"Like I said," Bev wiped the sweat with her shoulder again, "it's not like home."

Bath time in Baghdad Bev Westerman

arking dogs announced the SLG team's return in the late afternoon. I turned the corner of the ops center building just as the line of vehicles passed through the gate. The men had tucked the airline-crated animals into every space they could find, leaving them panting from the heat. The cat Caramel, however, remained cool and comfortable like a typical feline that always gets her way. Throughout the trip one of the men had perched her crate on his lap and left the air-conditioning vent aimed directly at her. The satisfied look on Caramel's face suggested she had always presumed that the best seat in the house was hers. Of course it was hers; there was no question about it.

Bev and I looked at each other as the men climbed out of the trucks. Although we were full of gratitude for the safe return of men and animals, our next thought, expressed by slightly raised eyebrows, was, "Boy, are we going to have our hands full." With eighteen dogs and two cats in our care, that left just ten more dogs and one cat to collect the following day.

Beatrice's five puppies were offloaded first. They were definitely hot, but I had to remind myself, these dogs were acclimated to the heat, unlike Bev and me.

The men carried the crates to our new shelter, and when they saw the hodgepodge enclosure we'd built with camouflage netting, pallets, and zip ties, the teasing began.

"Hey, if we knew what you could do with a heap of pallets, we'd have let you come sooner," said the team leader as he set down Rosie's crate.

"It's just like having our wives around," one guy complained with a smile. "We go to work, and when we get back, the whole place looks different."

"Don't let their teasing get to you," the American team leader laughed. "I can see the two of you fit right in. This is how a lot of things are built in this country."

While getting the dogs settled in, we gave them a once-over to make sure they were okay. We filled their water dishes but held off on the food at first. They were all too excited, checking out their new digs as well as eyeing their new shelter mates. Unless the dogs had already been living together, we kept them separate; an all-out dogfight was the last thing we needed.

"I think it's time for your baths," I announced after the latest arrivals were tucked into their temporary homes.

The puppies had not been out of their crate for the entire trip back to the compound, so they were covered in excrement. Using the bottom half of an airline crate, I dragged a nearby hose into the shelter area and proceeded to fill it, grateful that the water happened to be on for the moment. Baghdad's water services were no more reliable than its power supply. Bev ran back to our room for shampoo, and soon we went to work.

In the 120-degree heat, I expected Chewy, the first puppy, to enjoy the tepid water, but he wasn't having it. He tried to wriggle free the entire time. His struggling resulted in my getting more of a soaking than the pup, but I was not complaining. That water felt great. One after another, I scrubbed most of the filth off the puppies.

All during the sudsy exhibition, a row of Iraqi men stood outside our makeshift wall and stared in fascination. This was the first time any of them had seen a dog get washed. Each time a dog shook, spraying water all over me, the men laughed and chattered in Arabic. When I allowed the dogs to plant juicy kisses on my face, they nudged each other and grimaced.

Taking care of the animals wasn't an easy job. With only sporadic electricity and water, tasks such as feeding, cleaning, and cooling the animals became difficult and time-consuming. As soon as the water was on, we quickly took advantage, but many jobs were only half done when the water cut off again.

That evening, when the SLG team members returned from BIAP, they brought us the microchips that Linette had delivered to the Kuwait airport. It felt good to have one more thing go as planned. According to my latest e-mail from our FedEx coordinator, the French were still not budging from their impossible demands. It was out of my hands, so I just had to trust that Lynda and the FedEx team would eventually find a way to get us home.

At the end of an incredibly long day, Bev and I dragged ourselves back to the villa. The moment we crossed the courtyard, the dogs started barking. This was not going to win friends among SLG staff members who needed as much sleep as they could get to stay alert on their jobs. Bev and I tried to quiet the dogs, but every time we walked away, Rosie and Roxy barked; then the whole chorus joined in.

"What are we going to do?" Bev asked.

"Rosie and Roxy are the instigators," I said while rubbing my sunburned forehead. "Let's take them back to our room."

"What about the `No dogs in the house' rule?"

"We could wake up early and bring them back before anyone gets up," I suggested.

"I guess if it means everyone gets their sleep tonight, they'll be glad we broke the rule."

Bev and I tiptoed to the villa, and Rosie and Roxy cooperated in silence. We were just about to enter the courtyard again when we heard a sound behind us. Our hearts stopped.

"What's that?" Bev whispered.

Once again that darned puppy, Patton, had managed to escape. Not only that, but he'd made up his mind to join our slumber party. We were so exhausted by then, it was easier just to give in.

I got about four hours of sleep that night with Patton hogging three-quarters of my bed. How could such a small puppy take up so much room? By the time I dozed off with him cuddled up to me, I realized that he could have taken the entire bed, and I wouldn't have minded. Life was not about sleep or comfort. It was all about these animals.

Patton's paws were poking me in the ribs as the first light of dawn filled the room. Minutes later, wearing pajamas and unlaced work boots, Bev and I tiptoed down the stairs with Rosie, Roxy, and Patton. We crept out of the villa, but as soon as the other dogs saw us, they began to bark. Anyone who wasn't awake before certainly was now.

We quickly returned to our rooms to change out of our PJs, then went back outside and took turns walking the dogs, while the other person cleaned crates. After we finished, we each squeezed in a shower. Then Bev went to prepare breakfast for eighteen dogs and two cats, and I checked my e-mails, hoping for good news regarding the French. When I saw Dave's name sitting in my inbox, I didn't know whether to celebrate or cringe. The time on the e-mail showed that Dave had sent it several hours before. Was it good news?

June 1, 2008

Good morning, Terri,

All of us at FedEx want to do everything we can to transport the dogs and cats back to the States, but we must first ensure all regulatory concerns of the French are addressed before we take possession of them in Dubai.

I cannot allow FedEx to accept responsibility until we are reasonably assured we will not have any compliance issues. This could impact FedEx's reputation with the French regulatory authorities.

Based on what I've seen from the French so far, maybe we need to delay the shipment a number of days. I would suggest we reschedule for the following week, on Tuesday, June 10. Let me know your thoughts, as we would need to reschedule with Gryphon as well.

- Dave

With the increasing heat, staying in Baghdad another week would put the animals more at risk, even if we moved them in the middle of the night. I was also afraid we'd wear out our welcome at SLG, especially if we had to keep sneaking dogs into our room. I would agree to Dave's suggestion if I absolutely had to, but I was not ready to concede just yet.

I e-mailed Dave back and told him I'd like to stick with our plan to get the animals to Dubai that night. I reiterated that I would have a better chance of complying with French requirements from there. A short time later Dave's next e-mail arrived, giving me some hope.

Hi Terri,

I may not have mentioned before, but I'm participating as a guest at the Army War College's security seminar and will be here all this week. When our animal move hit the bump in the road this morning, I reached out to a U.S. Navy Captain and his wife. They've taken a real interest in Operation Baghdad Pups and believe they know the right people to pull some strings. I'm hopeful this may lead to a much-needed solution. Go ahead and get the animals to Dubai. I'll keep working the problem from here.