Although I'm not an ICPA (International Compliance Professionals Association) member, I am an animal lover and a coworker passed along the recent emails about the work ICPA is doing to rescue a puppy from Afghanistan. Special thanks to the ICPA for sharing this story with its members. Hopefully by posting this online, I can help reach their fund-raising goal.
The Story of Recon: http://puppy.earthserve.com
Recon is a rescued stray from Kabul, Afghanistan. Life as a stray is especially hard there, as the local culture does not welcome animals into the home and strays are left to fend for themselves.
Recon was taken in by his new family - a platoon of US Soldiers stationed in the area as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. After withstanding injuries & homesickness, these guys needed some comfort and Recon provided just that.
From Recon's adopted family:
Myself and 2 other of my platoon members were wounded in a grenade attack on a busy street in Asadabad back on June 9th, see the video on you tube "Asadabad Grenade Attack".
We had 4 of our guys MEDEVACED to the states, way back in May from an IED and have lost 4 killed from my unit alone.
This one dog has brought our team together for a common cause and we are forever in everyone's debt that will take a part in bringing him home. We are all Infantrymen and we have been through some tough times here but all of my guys melt like kids when it comes to Recon. That dog sleeps with a different guy every night, it's crazy just watching him wake up in a different bunk every morning.
We wanted to take him on some missions but Afghans don't like dogs and it would hamper what I'm doing so I actually leave a guy back everyday, for his rest and relaxation too, to play with Recon and hang out with him so he's not in danger because down here at my new base we live with the Afghans and they'll kill him if he gets loose. We just want to bring Recon "home" with our unit when we rotate out after the first of the year.
After some quick fundraising, the ICPA has arranged a trip home for Recon, through a charity organization supported by the International Human Society. Recon's adopted family is now in the process of returning to the US - and Recon's coming with!
First stop for Recon was the Tigger House, a shelter for strays founded by Pamela Constable, a foreign correspondent for the Washington Post in Afghanistan:
More about Tigger House, courtesy of SFDog.org and PARSA:
Tigger House now has an all-Afghan staff of seven, including a part-time vet, and facilities to shelter up to 15 dogs and 25 cats. It offers vaccines and vet care, at no charge in most cases, for any cat or dog. It arranges for neutering and spaying, and works to find loving homes for each animal. The project also works quietly to help foster a culture of animal care and compassion in a country where most people are too poor to have pets and many are raised to believe that all animals are unclean, especially dogs, and should not be kept in the home.
Next, Recon was ready for his big trip: All the way to JFK International Airport in New York City. He got his own crate and boarded the plane. And I'm sure all of his customs documents were in perfect order... now what HS Number is required for "Dog, Furry & Adorable?"
At last, Recon arrived in New York and was picked up by a friendly ICPA volunteer... well, volunteer's sister! He received a new chew toy as a welcoming gift to the US.
But the journey wasn't over. After recovering and playing with two new collie friends, Recon tackled the second leg of his trip with another ICPA volunteer who drove from South Carolina, to New Jersey to pick up Recon. This amazing volunteer then drove Recon from New Jersey to Augusta, GA where Recon was reunited with one of the soldiers from Recon's adopted platoon.
- For more Recon photos, visit the Recon Gallery.
- Donate here to cover Recon's transportation cost!
