Bringing a companion animal from a war zone to a safe home must be accomplished humanely, safely, and conscientiously and the requirements to do so are manifold.
First and foremost, for the animals to leave Iraq they must have been vaccinated for a period of at least 30 days. Vaccination requires coordination and scheduling with the local authorities and proper protocol must be followed.
When they are ready to leave Iraq, SPCA International will work to arrange transporting the animals. The itineraries to the United States will vary depending on each animal’s circumstances. Some animals may need to be transported by land to a neighboring country, which would then require a 30-day quarantine period before the animals could continue their journey by plane.
During the quarantine period the animals will need to be boarded, representing an additional cost to be paid by SPCA International. Another alternative is for the animals to leave the country by air transport and connect to a flight in a different country. Ideally this solution would eliminate the additional 30-day quarantine period. Airfare for a single animal from the Middle East to a destination in the United States could be as much as $1,200.
Once in the United States the animals will receive a thorough medical examination by a veterinarian to ensure the animal is healthy. Should there be any problems, they will be addressed immediately so the animal can then continue on to their new home in the United States.
SPCA International wants to ensure that none of these animals ends up in a shelter in the United States. To this end, it is imperative that all of the animals whom we bring to the United States have been properly socialized with human beings previously and that a permanent home has been arranged for them. Due to the inherent behavioral characteristics of adult animals, only animals who are under six months old or have been in the care of military personnel since they were puppies or kittens will be considered for this program. Additionally, SPCA International is partnering with animal behavior professionals who will work with the dogs to prevent any possible behavior issues in their new homes.
SPCA International’s exhaustive efforts to rescue the mascots and companion animals of United States soldiers serving in the Middle East require extensive and diligent coordination of our resources and expertise. Your generous contributions will help SPCA International to bring Charlie and the other four-legged friends of our brave men and women in uniform to a safe, happy, forever home in the United States.
Tell your friend about this
