Stories about friends and family members reuniting are great to hear no matter what time of year it is. However, when those stories fall during the holidays — and include members of the military and animals — they just seem to be so much sweeter.
This is the story of a man who met a dog in one of the worst places in the world and how their bond ended up saving each other, so if you are feeling a little sentimental, you might want to grab a tissue or two.
Ryan Salmons, a U-4 Specialist in the Army, was deployed to Syria this summer.
For more than a decade, Syria has experienced a huge humanitarian crisis that has left men, women and children facing one of the most horrendous environments in the world.
When serving overseas in places like Syria, far away from home, loved ones and the simplest of human comforts like indoor plumbing and sleeping through the night without the fear of attack, military personnel seek peace wherever they can.
That peace can include watching a never-ending loop of an old movie on VHS tape, rereading favorite magazines and books or, in this case, seeking solace in the companionship of an animal rescued from the harsh and unforgiving streets of the area.
Army Specialist Ryan Salmon cuddles with Missy, a pup he meet while on deployment in Syria. (Courtesy/Group Gordon)
The story of Salmons and his furry friend began when a team on duty stumbled across three dogs when the area was in danger of being attacked. The team named the older dog Rippet and the two younger pups were crowned Missy and Rocket.
"They were little puppies back then. They were street dogs," Salmons said. "Some of the locals tried snagging them up a couple of times, but different cultures in the world, they're not the nicest to dogs."
Rippet became the base dog and father figure to youngsters Missy and Rocket. The dogs roamed the base during the day and at night. Salmons' team brought Missy and Rocket inside, while Rippet "did his own thing" staying with other team members on base.
Because of the culture and environment in Syria, it's not unusual to see packs of dogs or small pairings of cats running the streets, uncared for and without permanent homes.
"When we left there, one of the other field artillery units out there wound up coming across a puppy that they took in and rescued," Salmons said. "For a little bit, there was another little white dog that some of our route clearance guys were looking after."
Though Missy was skittish around some people, over time, she and Salmons developed a bond and grew close. Whenever Salmons was out on patrol or away from base, he knew that Missy would be there to greet him when he returned.
On base, Missy would constantly follow Salmon around wherever he went. At night, she would sleep in his room on a blanket she "claimed as her own."
Though each day in Syria was filled with the unknown, Salmons knew there would be one constant that kept him going: Missy.
No man, or dog, left behind
As his time in Syria was coming to an end, Salmons couldn't accept going back to the U.S. without his girl Missy.
Missy and her brother, Rocket, wait in crates to be loaded into a van that will transport the dogs from New York to Colorado. (Courtesy/Group Gordon)
"Me and one of my other peers in my unit, we both got real attached to Rocket and Missy, and we were both taking care of them after we rotated there in Syria," Salmons said. "After a couple of weeks, we were talking about how we couldn't leave them behind. Even after just a couple of weeks, we got really attached to them."
Salmons and his team member began doing some research on how they could bring the dogs over to the U.S., and they found SPCA International.
"We pretty much just had to go through an approval process and talk to a gentleman in their office in Iraq," Salmon explained. "We had to get some special memos signed. That was a real lengthy process and difficult to get that kind of approval through the chain of command, especially in a combat zone."
Despite the red tape and hurdles, Salmons kept pursuing the case to bring Missy to the U.S. and was eventually granted approval.
Because the dogs would have to be transported from Syria to Iraq, Salmons and some of his team members built a kennel using supplies they found around the base.
The team used the frame from a water tank and paracord to make netting for the kennel.
"We put together this janky little kennel to fit both of them to transport them," Salmons said, laughing. "We were actually able to bring them on the Chinook with us, and we pulled out of Syria with both of them on the helicopter with us, which was pretty nice."
Two U.S.-bound hounds
Salmons returned to the U.S. and his home in Evans in October and began the process of waiting for Missy's arrival.
After what seemed like an eternity, Salmons was finally reunited with Missy on Wednesday in a parking lot in Thornton.
"As soon as we got her out, she was running around and rolling around on the ground trying to get belly rubs. She was ecstatic to see us. You could tell she was definitely happy," Salmons said. "Having Missy here really fills the house. Missy is the sweetest dog ever, and it's nice to go and do whatever with her.
Rocket was also reunited with his new owner and will be living in Colorado Springs.
"We are still going to be able to bring them together so they can see each other," Salmons said.
Though Salmons had to readjust to the comforts of home after returning to the U.S., many of the sights and sounds Missy experienced were completely new to the dog.
Despite having seen a television before while on base in Syria, Missy growled at the TV propped in Salmons' living room and the never-before-seen ceiling fan scared her, Salmon said. However, the snow and cold weather didn't scare Missy one bit. She spent some of the afternoon on Wednesday running around the yard of her new home, rolling in the snow.
Salmons is looking to get a dog DNA kit to help determine what kind of breed Missy is and get a heads up on any health problems she may run into down the road.
"She probably has a mix of a bunch of different stuff in her," he said.
SPCA International working to rescue animals around the world
SPCA International founded its Operation Baghdad Pups program in 2008. The program rescues animals in war-torn countries like the Middle East, Central Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa to reunite them with the deployed military personnel the animals bonded with.
The program has been such a success that the organization has expanded its operation to Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide, rescuing stray animals anywhere in the world for members of all military branches.
"Being deployed in Syria alone is just so difficult and dangerous, and for a stray dog or a stray cat, their fate is usually not the greatest," SPCA International Director of Programs Lori Kalef said. "Don't let the name fool you. It's not just pups, and it's not just Baghdad."
Since the program's inception, the organization has rescued more than 1,250 dogs and cats — and one donkey, Kalef said.
The political and volatile climate in many of these countries makes the process of bringing a cat or dog over to the U.S. difficult.
"The process is very dangerous, and our program operates wherever there is a U.S. military installment or base around the world. So right now, we are in over 30 countries," Kalef said. "We aren't always able to send team members into these war-torn areas, so we work with other nonprofit organizations in those countries or partners that we can befriend, like security companies, to figure out the logistics."
In Missy and Rocket's case, the two dogs were transported from Syria to Iraq where SPCA International has a headquarters.
Prior to the journey to the U.S., all animals must undergo an extensive veterinary exam, receive proper vaccinations and get either spayed or neutered. Once the animals arrive in the U.S., they are seen by a government vet and quarantined for two to three days before heading to their permanent home.
"It can be a lengthy process or a day process — it depends on if the military is willing to work with us," Kalef said. "There's so much red tape to go through. We have to work with that government in that country and the U.S. government vet and adhere to the regulations in the States — the import and export laws.
"These are all the simple steps because we are also working through war."
Army Specialist Ryan Salmon cuddles with Missy, a pup he meet while on deployment in Syria. (Courtesy/Group Gordon)
Once in the U.S., the animals are either flown or driven to their new home. With Missy and Rocket's arrival taking place during the busy holiday season, the two dogs were transported by van from New York to Colorado.
"It can be even harder to get a dog home once they reach the U.S. than from Iraq to the U.S., especially this time of year with the cold," Kalef said. "Because of the cold temperatures, airlines will not fly dogs or cats, and they also don't fly dogs or cats over the holidays because it's too busy."
Transporting the animals became even more difficult when COVID-19 hit and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention implemented additional regulations and restrictions on the import of animals from other countries.
"We didn't shut the program down; we just found another way to do it. So we brought the dogs to Canada for six months," Kalef said. "Now the CDC has streamlined the process, and we are able to bring them in."
Funding for the program comes from donations from other organizations, individuals and businesses around the world.
Costs to rescue and transport an animal from overseas can range from $4,500 to $9,000, depending on the case.
"I don't think many people realize the cost of doing this," Kalef added.
Service members who are adopting the animal are asked to contribute $700 toward the cost. This ensures that the service member is serious about the adoption and care of the animal by having some skin in the game, so to speak.
"We want to make sure that it's not just an emotional response of seeing a dog on the street," Kalef said. "We don't want to bring that dog over and have it end up in a shelter. We never ever want to be a burden on the shelters."
Though the main purpose of SPCA International is to rescue animals, staff and volunteers with the organization often feel the program is more of a rescue operation for soldiers and military personnel.
"We aren't saving just a dog or a cat. We are saving a service member who has been deployed into one of the most terrible regions in the world and who has lost their comfort and home," Kalef said. "And this little dog or cat walks on base and suddenly lifts up their spirits and morale and keeps them going.
"We always say, 'Who rescued who?'"
SPCA International's involvement doesn't end once the animal is reunited with its new owner. The organization checks in with the duo to offer support in the event there are behavioral issues.
"They become our family, and we always stay in touch for a certain length of time. But we always hear back from people two or three years later and get stories," Kalef said. "Honestly, that's one of the most rewarding parts of the job."
For more information on SPCA International, including volunteer opportunities and how to make a donation, go to www.spcai.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment