Ratchet is finally home

[question everything]

StarTribune.com
No place like (a new) home for Ratchet

By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune

October 22, 2008
The most famous dog in the world -- for this week, at least -- arrived in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Ratchet, the rescued Iraqi puppy, blinked modestly in the glaring lights of TV cameras, gazed at a U.S. congressman and looked around at people wearing T-shirts bearing his puppy picture. Then he lowered his jet-lagged body onto the linoleum of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and slept the sleep of the dog-tired.

Ear rubs and even a dog biscuit failed to wake him. For Ratchet, who for two weeks was the subject of a tug-of-war between a Minnesota soldier in Baghdad and a military that prohibits pets, it's a peaceful ending to a story that outraged people around the world, via the Internet.

Ratchet was a tiny pup when he was rescued from a burning trash heap by American soldiers in Baghdad on Mother's Day. Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Spring Lake Park adopted the dog, calling him a comfort during a stressful year-long stint in Iraq. On Oct. 1, in preparation for a transfer to the United States, Beberg tried to get the seven-month-old border collie mix out of Iraq and to her parents' home in Minnesota. An officer confiscated the dog as he was on the way to the airport.

Beberg told her parents she was devastated at the thought of leaving the puppy in a country where few dogs are kept as pets and wild dogs are often treated like vermin. She posted the story on Facebook. Katie Konrath, a college friend from White Bear Lake who had been following Beberg's postings about the puppy, blogged about Ratchet's situation, posted it on the website Digg, and asked friends to read it, drawing attention as more people read the story. From there Ratchet's story went viral. An Internet petition demanding clemency for the dog was signed by almost 69,000 people around the world. Minnesota's members of Congress pressed for the dog's release. Last week the military relented. Ratchet was rescued by Operation Baghdad Pups, a group that tries to get dogs and cats adopted by American military personnel out of Iraq.

(snip)



http://www.startribune.com/local/west/32489589.html

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6309425,00.jpg

[That Is Quite Enough]

1. Aw, how sweet.

I've been watching this story for a while and I'm glad to see some positive developments in it...

[roguevalley]

16. the military needs to pull its head out of its ass and allow pets. this

sucks. I remember early on some c**ks**king officer ordered a bunch of marines to take their dog to the medic and have it put to sleep. I think I would frag his ass before that.

[flvegan]

2. Welcome to America, Ratchet!

Now, bring forth the DUers that will piss all over this because Ratchet is a dog and this type of story exceeds their compassion's bandwidth.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Ratchet is one LUCKY dog!

What a great story!

The power of the internet! :woohoo:


K&R

:patriot:

[BrklynLiberal]

4. That is great news. thanks for posting.

[Triana]

5. Awww! Ratchet is lucky. I hope the others can be as lucky.

What an adorable pup!

[Booster]

6. Saw this on our local news last night. Jumped for joy. Good

boy, Rachet, welcome to America.

[grannylib]

7. Welcome to Minnesota, Ratchet! We've been waiting for you!

And we'll be proud and happy to welcome home your human, Gwen, when it's HER turn.

[RamboLiberal]

8. Welcome home Pvt Ratchet

Thanks for posting - great video at the site. Tears in my eyes.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. Tears of happiness here for this lucky pup and all of the people that made it possible to get

him to the US safely. This was a Real Mission Accomplished!

Thanks for posting this! :)

[question everything]

12. He is! At first, it was feared that he was going to be -

dare I say it? - "destroyed."

And then the SPCA went there TWICE to pick him up.

Really a joyous occasion. As with the hurricanes and fires, it is one thing for people who often are responsible for their actions to be killed, but my heart always to to the poor animals who trust their keepers.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. So true. Now let's also hope that Ratchet's Gwen comes home safely too.

[flpab]

10. YES!!!

Petitions do work! I think I signed twice and so glad they got Rachet home. The vet who checked him out said he was in great condition.

[BelgianMadCow]

11. Ratchet, the Barrens? You can take the boat to the Eastern Kingdoms there

I always forget where it goes exactly...

[Marrah_G]

14. Rachet to Booty Bay !

[BelgianMadCow]

15. Join me in Kalimdor!

My night elf rogue is so sweet :D
Huuuuge ears though

:hi: you!