CADG is a international logistics and construction company working here in Afghanistan. They have assisted NOWZAD DOGS in rescuing dogs that Soldiers have rescued from Afghanistan.
I am glad to share the good news of how people can make a difference when they try - It made a big difference for Gus and other dogs in need along with the Soldiers who love their 4 legged companions.
" I'm Gus . I like Beef Jerky. "
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Gus the dog (left),
Gus with Louise from Nowzad Dogs, her Afghan assistant, and two pilots (right)
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Soldiers who
work out on the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) often work for the better part
of a year, isolated from family and friends, working in some of the harshest
environments in Afghanistan. They are often subject to dangerous or deadly
situations that can often take their toll. Soldiers often look for anything to
take their minds off of where they are including befriending a stray dog or
cat.
Since
soldiers have been going to war, they have been befriending stray animals that
they find out in the field or wander into camp. It’s a simple act of
humanitarianism that has mutual benefit: a stray dog or cat gets food and
comfort, and the soldier has a loyal companion. It is a powerful bond. In the
Vietnam War, John Laurence, a reporter who covered the battle of Hue found a
kitten in the ruins, cleaned the cat up and eventually took him home. Even
though the cat was vicious, he couldn’t part with it. He ended up writing The
Cat from Hue that became a best seller, documenting how the cat became a
beloved family pet.
Afghanistan
is filled with stray dogs and cats. They often congregate around the bases
because they can pick through the garbage and find morsels of food. The Afghans
keep dogs for fighting and often release the dogs who don’t win who then become
wild. Go to any of the ISAF bases and you’ll see the animals, running in and
out of the gates or rummaging through the garbage, searching for scraps. It’s a
heartbreaking situation.
The problem
is, after the deployment, the soldier goes home and has to part with the animal
under their care. Even if the soldier wants the animal, due to regulations, the
military won’t let the animals on the aircraft.
This is
where Nowzad Dogs comes into the story. They are an NGO that have one mission:
to rescue the cats and dogs that have become the soldier’s or sailors pets, get
them medically checked, and send them on to their owners in America, Great
Britain, Australia, South Africa; anywhere where ISAF troops or contractors
have come from.
Started by a
Royal Marine sergeant who wanted his camp dog brought home to England, Nowzad
Dogs (Nowzad is the FOB in Helmand province where the sergeant was posted and
became the charity namesake) relies completely on generous donations to operate
the charity and get the dogs home. The sailor or soldier has to pay a certain
amount up front. Then a page on the website is set up to ask for donations for
the particular animal. Moving the animals can be extremely expensive and
complex and Nowzad is always in dire need of funds.
CADG has
stepped in to provide logistics free of cost. We fly the animals from specific
military bases to Kabul and deliver the dog or cat to representatives of Nowzad
who then clean up the animals and get their transport out of Afghanistan to
their new home. It’s our way of providing a service to the ISAF soldiers. They
spend the better part of a year with the animal and it becomes a pet, a
companion who makes their experience in Afghanistan tolerable.
I watched as
Gus the dog was loaded on to the plane in his crate at Camp Bastion with a
small sign that said “ I'M Gus. I Like Beef Jerky”. A true mutt, he looks
like he has a lot of Border Collie combined with a dash of Corgie and a few
other breeds all mixed in. When we landed in Kabul, we had no idea what to
expect of his temperament. When the door was opened, he came out, wagged his
tail, ate some beef jerky and drank some water out of his bowl. His owner Zach,
a sailor who has gone back to the States, will be reunited with Gus in about a
month after the dog has been health checked and readied for transport with all
the proper documents and certificates.
Gus’ story
is an all too common one. But with donations, Nowzad Dogs will continue to care
and transport the animals to their owners. And CADG is more than happy to help!
For more information or to make a
donation, please have a look at www.nowzad.com
