Ratchet update —- he’s here!!!
Ratchet is stateside!!!
Hopefully, all of my readers are as excited about reading these updates on Ratchet and his journey to the U.S. as I am about writing them. We have Operation Baghdad Pups, under the direction of Terri Crisp to thank for Ratchet’s arrival in the U.S.
If you recall from my last entry, Ratchet was taken to an airport on the outskirts of Baghdad to begin his long trip to the U.S. Well, this is how his journey went. When he left Baghdad, he went on a flight that took him to Kuwait. That was a private charter flight. From there, Ratchet was flown to Amsterdam on a commercial flight and then from Amsterdam, he was flown into Washington. Through the generosity of Northwest Airlines, which is based out of Minnesota (Gwen Beberg’s home state), they covered the cost of the last flights to bring Ratchet home. He was then taken to Clocktower Animal Hospital in Herndon, Va, where he was given his required vaccinations.
From what I hear, there wasn’t much barking, but a little bit of whimpering with those shots. The doctor who examined Ratchet, Dr. Chris Carskaddan, says that the dog is extemely healthy and also mentioned that Ratchet was “cute”!!!!
After a couple of nights in a kennel, Ratchet will take yet one more flight. He will be travelling to Minneapolis where Sgt. Beberg’s parents will pick him up at the airport. Sgt. Beberg will be home in about a month where she and Ratchet will finally be together again. I’ll bring you news of that reunion when it happens!!!!
When hearing of Ratchet’s arrival in the U.S., Beberg emailed the following message to her friends and family, “I’m very excited that Ratchet will be waiting for me when I get home from Iraq! Words can’t describe it, I hope that Ratchet’s story will inspire people to continue the efforts to bring more service members’ animals home from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
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