Dear Service Member,

Thank you for caring not only for humans lives while you bravely serve for our country, but for caring for a helpless animal as well.

Before you consider bringing your friend to the States we would like to take this opportunity to be sure you are ready for the lifetime commitment of your companion, he or she may be with your family another 12-14 years. Are your prepared for this long commitment, have you thought this ownership entirely through?

We are pretty sure that you found your companion orphaned or starving and choose not to walk away but offer your caring hands. We are confident that you and your companion have traveled many miles together, shared meals, sleeping quarters, some laughs and even some tears while you have been deployed. Altho' your loyal companion is not a classified working dog, he or she has provided for you an extra set of eyes, ears and a keen nose to help keep you just a bit safer.

We realize that having your companion with you all these months has provided you with a "touch of home" that you may have longed for. The sad fact is that the US is already filled with thousands of homeless animals and not enough good homes for them, therefore we want to know that your effort to bring your companion into the States has been an entirely thought out one and a lifetime commitment to your friend.

Please discuss your companion with all your family members and be 100% sure that this is what you all want and to agree to, that you are prepared for unforseen veterinary bills that may arise during their lifetime, that when you are deployed that someone will be there to care for your companion and you are committed to house breaking and obedience training so that you and your family with have a well behaved friend...one that remains with you for his or her lifetime. Your companion deserves a lifetime place to rest their head and call "home".

Please be sure you will be able to devote the time and energies required of pet ownership before you consider bringing your mascot in to the States.

The shipment of animal's internationally is a costly venture. A commercial flight and export fees into the States may exceed $1500.00 depending on your location and the size and weight of your pet and final US destination. This fee will include the required import/export permit, health certificate, boarding fees, rabies & distemper vaccinations, and cargo shipping fees. Pets from Afghanistan may exceed $2,500.00 for import to the US. Airline shipping kennels cost $25-$100, and you should have an airline approved kennel shipped to your APO 4-6 weeks prior to flight so you are able to accustom your pet to their kennel. Ask us how to get your airline kennel to you safely! 

If you have thought all of this through and believe that you are prepared for these commitments, then please read on, if you and your family are not able to fully commit or help with some funding for your companion we suggest that you seek out the help of veterinarians & humane societies within the Country you are deployed rather than importing your friend in to the States.

Ok, you have made a commitment to your friend and by doing so this is what Military Mascots offers for you and your companion.

We are happy to help support your furry friend with "care packages" to help keep them healthy and also send along care packs for you while you are deployed.

We are happy to help you locate a veterinarian and/or a humane society who can examine, vaccinate for rabies and distemper 30 days prior to flight and they will provide a health certificate that is required less than 10 days prior to flight into the States.

**Military Mascots is not able to assist any pets attempting to import into Massachusetts or West Virginia. These states have bans in effect for all pets originating from within Iraq or Afghanistan from entering or transit through their state.

Funding towards flights home is offered when possible via the support of donors. It may not be possible to raise the needed funds for your Mascot just by having their photo on the website, therefore we suggest once your Mascot has been added to the site, that Service Member's share the web link with friends and family so they can help show their donation support as well.

Please contact Bonnie Buckley at: militarymascots@yahoo.com using your .MIL email address for your initial contact. Please provide a bio and photo of your mascot and to what State you are attempting to import your buddy home too and your deployed locale. If you wish to have care packages shipped to you, please provide your APO address. Please visit here for further information.

Thank you,

Bonnie Buckley

Feel free to read some past newsletters to see the work we have been doing for the Troops & their Mascots since June of 2003.