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Our Mascot Friends
- ~ Be patient Photos may
take a bit to download ~
All photos are copyright 2003-2007
to their soldiers or their rightful photographers and should not be removed
from this website without consent.
NOT ALL OF OUR
MASCOT FRIENDS ARE SHOWN HERE ON THE WEB SITE! Often times Bonnie is working
quietly behind the scenes to assist & support Soldier's who prefer not to
list their pets on this site. Your support is still greatly appreciated for
those Soldier's who prefer not to list their mascots on these pages. There
are many stories and continued contact from the Troops with pets, however due to
limited time not all photos and stories are shared here.
 .
UPDATE 16 April 07: Mahrjan's Soldier reports:
Kitty is fine. He recovered very well and has found a home with the day
laborer from our FOB. The laborer helped me care for the kitty and one
afternoon brought his daughter and son to the FOB. They were absolutely
smitten with his great personality. The next day, he said he would welcome
him into their home. The timing was perfect as I was in a HMMWV that hit
an IED about 10 days ago. I am OK, but banged up. They moved me to a desk
job for a while to rest. Most Afghan homes have a wall around a small yard.
The day laborer said that kitty hunts mice there and sleeps in his daughter’s
room every night. I am thankful for your work. I will miss the little guy,
but believe this was the very best way things could work out. Thank You
again, and God bless.
25 Feb 07: Mahrjan's Soldier in Afghanistan writes: My
wife and I are huge fans and supporters of your cause. Little did I know
that just a few years after becoming acquainted with your organization,
I would consider seeking your aid. I am a soldier serving in Afghanistan
. My team lives on a very small FOB, a small male cat only about a year
old wandered in and introduced himself with a meow and a leap into my lap
and a big purr. I knew right away that this kitty was a stray, not feral.
I left him be in hopes he would find his way home again. Unfortunately,
that was not to be. He wandered into the motor pool and was struck by a
car. He survived with a pair of deep cuts on his shoulders. I immediately
took him into my room and began nursing him back to health. To my great
relief, just 48 hours later, he was chipper and eating and even wanted
to play! What an inspirational kitty. He has a nasty open cut the medic
helped me close with sutures after snipping off as much fur as I could.
You can see in the photo the knitted tubing he wears until the sutures
come out. I hope to say he will recover, but his shoulder muscle was cut
in one spot so his ability to walk will be somewhat impaired.
I am keeping him in my room for now, but can not do this forever.
His very special personality has won my heart, and I am very seriously
considering tying to send him home to the US . I don’t suspect I will find
a home here that can take care of a slightly disabled pet, and setting
him back free to run is a death sentence. I have named him Mahrjan, after
the wounded lion from the Kabul Zoo that touched my heart as this kitten
does now. If he is left here, he faces certain death as there is a feral
cat overpopulation in this area; and the number of people who have any
interest in taking in a cat as a pet is non-existent. Please tell me you
can help my new friend. Sorry for the long note. Chalk it up to my deepest
wish to help this little guy.
 .
UPDATE: 24 April 07: Bullet arrived in the
US today! View Bullet's Home Photos!
16 Feb 07: Bullet's Marine Writes: Hello, We are stationed
near Fallujah, Iraq. We have a dog here we call “Bullet”, she has been
with us since late last year. She joined us when she was literally a newborn,
one of my Marines pulled her from his pocket to show me. As you know, the
dogs here are neglected and left to nothingness. I spent a few of my summers
as a boy on my uncle’s dog farm, so I can tell you from my heart that the
dogs here, even the ones who have an owner, do not have a chance. The situation
here is very sad for them. Bullet has fit in nicely on our FOB. Her personality
is lively and her love for the Marines is quite evident. Bullet defends
the Marines against “strangers” and is very protective of her home here.
She is quite simply a very noble beast, and it would be a true tragedy
to have to leave her behind. She is not ill and has no visible medical
problems, although we have yet to have her spayed. She has a thick, robust
build and by all accounts is quite healthy and SURPRISINGLY well-behaved.
The 1stSgt has more than enough land and his loving family is quite ready
to adopt her. It is our hope that she becomes a fixture at the drill weekends
and family events, and lives the rest of her life among the Marines she
has known since birth. We all truly dread what will happen to her if we
leave her behind. The Company has been immensely successful out here; it
has been a historic time in all of our lives. I truly believe that only
good things could come from bringing our beloved friend home with us. Please
let me know if you can help. Thank You.
 m
UPDATE: 23 March 07: Sadly, Shelby was made
to be released from her Transport vehicle at the Iraqi border. Shelby has
not been located in the desert or anywhere near the border for her to be
able to be shipped to her Soldier who has now redeployed to the US.
4 Jan 07: Shelby's Soldier writes: We are trying to
find out how to bring a dog from Iraq to the US. Shelby has been staying
in our camp since April 2006 and all the guys take care of her. When one
team leaves the next team takes over. Not knowing when the war will end
and knowing dogs in Iraq are often abused and Shelby relies on us for her
food and shelter; we are trying to bring her to our home in the US. Shelby
has been spayed and rabies vaccinated. Thank you, for your assistance.
 
UPDATE: 13 April - We have not heard from
Goblin's Soldier.
19 Nov 06 Goblin's Soldier in Iraq writes: Goblin
was found abandoned in a bombed out building on our FOB, and was subsequently
adopted. Goblin was badly malnourished and sickly , we nursed him to health
and subsequently bonded with the little cat. Since finding Goblin, the
critter has become a small ray of joy to all that have met him. The whole
squad cares for and plays with Goblin. I am interested in taking Goblin
home where he has a home and a family to watch over him. Anything you can
do to reduce the cost of shipping him would be a great help , as we have
limited access to funds here and still have to pay for the vaccinations
and tests advised on your site. We would also like any advice that you
have on a veterinarian here that is familiar with the completion of the
appropriate exams and vaccinations. We only have about 30 more days left
in-country so anything you can do to point us in the right direction is
appreciated. Thank you for all you do for us ma'am. Many peple claim that
they care about American troops; but you don't just "talk the talk"
but "walk the walk" as well. God bless you and all your staff.
Copyright © 2003-2007 Bonnie Buckley- Military
Mascots
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