article edited - click link for complete story Shelters fill as troops sadly give pets away Associated Press WACO -- Texas soldiers preparing to be sent overseas are expressing concerns about the fate of pets they will leave behind. Lorrie Dicorte is dog-sitting Sampson, a massive Great Dane that belongs to a soon-to-be-deployed Fort Hood soldier who tearfully gave the dog up. Dicorte told the Waco Tribune-Herald in Sunday's editions that she already has one of the big dogs but agreed to keep another after talking to its owner. "Lord knows I don't need another Great Dane, but, yes, I don't want to see it suffer," she said. Soldiers are having to make plans for their animals following the increase of tensions between the United States and Iraq. Animal rescue shelters in Waco and Killeen are being deluged with calls from the Central Texas military personnel. "A lot of them are in tears, which of course puts us in tears, even though we try to be professional and not cry," said Ginger Smith-Holmes, manager at Second Chance shelter in Killeen. Many soldiers are calling rescue groups like Second Chance because they have no-kill policies, unlike shelters that euthanize animals. "I've even heard some of them say, `I really hope my baby's here when I come back from the Middle East,' " Smith-Holmes said. --
It seems like you could add a couple of more jobs per base to have someone run a kennel. I dunno though, something I've never thought about.
Geez -- that's really sad. I'd never considered the ramifications for pet-owning soldiers. The shelters might consider setting up a special program for the soldier's pets they have up for adoption. Then the people who adopt the animals could get the soldier's name and they could send them letters letting them know that their pets have found a new home. It would be a great way for animal lovers to show their support for our soldiers.
They should bring the pets with them, they'd be great for morale. Come on Sparky, go fetch! Holy crap, that's the minefield! Sparky nooooooooooo. End Scene Note, I've never owned a dog so I'm sorry if I come accross as insensetive to dogs, dog owners, and dog lovers. Hell, it's only fair though, I used to own a quaker parrot and that quizno's super bowl commercial pissed me off (where the chef neglects his bird to death).
