Please SIGN petition to bring Ratchet home with his soldier friend!! by Maria Daines on The Pipeline at IndieMusicPeople

Please SIGN petition to bring Ratchet home with his soldier friend!!
Dear all,

please read and share this news and sign the petition, it's heartbreaking but we can move mountains with compassion!

Thank you
Maria xx

PETITION LINK -

SIGN HERE

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet

Gwen with lifeline 'Ratchet' in Iraq

Ratchet as a puppy

Soldier who saved puppy from life of hardship in Iraq could see her dog executed by U.S. superiors

By Eddie Wrenn/World News Online
Last updated at 7:23 PM on 07th October 2008

Young Ratchet could face the death-penalty by U.S. Army officials

A soldier who saved the life of a young puppy in Iraq and expected to bring him back home with her could see her dog executed by her U.S. superiors.

Sgt. Gwen Beberg befriended puppy Ratchet while serving in Iraq, and sent regular dispatches to her home in Minneapolis charting the dog's process, with 100s of fans tuning in on Facebook to follow the pup's life.

But the U.S. military takes a strict line with soldiers befriending animals, and confiscated Ratchet as Sgt. Beberg prepared to fly home from Baghdad Airport at the weekend.

Now animal charity Operation Baghdad Pups, which has the motto 'No buddy gets left behind', is pleading with the U.S. Army to allow Ratchet to fly out of the country - amid fears the military will shoot the puppy in the head execution-style.

Sgt. Beberg's mother Patricia said: 'This year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen.

'Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline.'

Sgt. Beberg is also under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life.

A close friend of Sgt Beberg said: 'It hasn't been easy for her - and the puppy she saved has been one of the few things that has kept her going.

'She's shared pictures of him as he grew from a frightened ball of fur to an adorable young dog.

'She's kept us up-to-date on his travel schedule, and badgered us into contributing money to bring him home.

'Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal for befriending animals and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules.

'It was so close... Ratchet was on his way to the airport. And now he might be killed, just because some power-hungry officers decided to flex their muscles and punish an innocent animal because Gwen dared to care about him.'

One soldier wrote to Baghdad Pups: 'I have sacrificed a lot to serve my country. All that I ask in return is to be allowed to bring home the incredible dog that wandered into my life here in Iraq and prevented me from becoming terribly callous towards life.'

The charity Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International has joined Baghdad Pups in asking the U.S. Army to show clemency to Ratchet, and allow the dog to return to gwen's parents in Minneapolis and friends of Gwen have launched a campaign to get American senators to intervene.

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Maria Daines

10/9/2008 3:53:35 AM

Dear all,

sorry to bump this myself but please sign and forward if you can, thanks, Maria xx

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The CODE

10/9/2008 7:37:46 AM

Hi Maria - Petition signed!

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Maria Daines

10/9/2008 8:19:46 AM

Thank you so much!! I hope this story has a happy ending, wishing you a great weekend & all the best from us :)

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10/9/2008 12:22:09 PM

i've signed the petition.

You both are an inspiration to humanity

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Maria Daines

10/9/2008 12:44:05 PM

Thank you very much for signing the petition Ray, your words are extremely humbling, I don't know what to say, just thank you :) I'm sure if there is a massive public outcry about this situation then Ratchet will be allowed to live and come home with his guardian and friend, sadly if there isn't enough voices to speak up for them it probably won't happen, such is the world today. I felt embarrassed to have to bump this blog up to get it seen, I just didn't want it to disappear without trace because having witnessed some success stories over the years, always through sheer weight of numbers, I feel there's a chance and while there is we just have to keep going don't we. There was a case about 18 months ago, a sad story of a stray pit bull called Spencer who had wandered into a neighbourhood with a long chain dragging behind him and he was immediately put into a kill shelter and doomed to die. I remember the public and animal advocates mobilising some kind of internet and letter writing army on his behalf, it was awesome to behold!! Our own Rich Russom at IAC did a spectacular amount of work on this mercy mission and so did many others and eventually the dog was granted his life and he now lives happily at Best Friends in Utah, a home for life and that's the kind of miracle that gives me hope and restores my faith in humanity. War is so destructive but in the midst of the carnage sometimes there is a tiny ray of light, if we can reach out to man's best friend then we can reach out to people and the world shouldn't be such a despairing whirlpool of misery and hatred should it. I always hope the good guys n' gals will win and this soldier is one of them :)

My best to you, Maria xx

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Susan Raven

10/9/2008 1:59:43 PM

Lump in the throat. Signing.

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Maria Daines

10/9/2008 2:09:43 PM

Thank you so much Susan, yes the photograph of Gwen and Ratchet shows only love. The army teaches people to do their job and defend their country but when soldiers display human emotion those in charge look the other way, without compassion and bending the rules sometimes where would we be?

Sending a hug, Maria :)

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Kid Gibb

10/9/2008 6:10:59 PM

it's the least all of us here at Two Cats Hunting Records can do for a "Home Girl"

thanks for the opportunity M&P

peace

gibby and the whole two cats clan

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Maria Daines

10/9/2008 7:51:33 PM

Bless you Gibby :) Did you know I didn't get home from your birthday party until the early hours of today LOL!!!!!!

You ROCK thanks for signing :)

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Maria Daines

10/10/2008 3:20:21 PM

Dear all,

this just in, urgent update for Ratchet, please forward, thanks, Maria xx

Operation Baghdad Pups (God Bless them):
www.baghdadpups.com

We can make a difference.
It's called the "Court of Pubic Opinion" and they will listen...
Spread the word!

HERE ARE THE CURRENT PROBLEMS:

ISSUE 1: Ratchet is not allowed to leave.Since officers are refusing to let Ratchet go, he needs a military order to officially release him to leave Iraq.

ISSUE 2: Baghdad Pups needs donations to sponsor their upcoming trip to Iraq. Ratchet was scheduled to leave on their October 6th flight. Their next flight is early next week, and Ratchet must be on it. Gwen will be shipping out later this month and Ratchet will have to be abandoned if he doesn't leave before her.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Stephanie from Baghdad Pups told Katie (Gwen's friend) several ways that people can help save Ratchet.

First, contact Minnesota senators and representatives (even if you're not from here).

Here are some details:

Ratchet is at Camp Striker in Iraq
15 other dogs were allowed to leave with Baghdad Pups on the flight Ratchet was supposed to be on.
The base's commanding officers seized Ratchet on his way to the airport.
Ratchet has had his necessary vaccinations and is healthy.
Ratchet needs a military release because the military is refusing to let him leave Iraq.

Calling is best because Senators and Representatives get thousands of emails. However, click here for a sample email if you prefer that.

Here is the Contact information for the MN Senators and Gwen's Representative:

Senator Amy Klobuchar:
(888) 224-9043 -or- (612) 727-5220

Senator Norm Coleman:
(800) 642-6041 -or- (651) 645-0323

Representative Keith Ellison,
(West Twin Cities, Minneapolis)
(202) 225-4755

Second, donate to Baghdad Pups! When Ratchet is released, Baghdad Pups needs to be able to pick him up from Iraq. Since Sgt Beberg will be transferred at the end of the month, Ratchet must be on Baghdad Pups next trip.

Donate: Help Ratchet get another plane ticket.

By donating to them, you will not only help Ratchet get home, but you will also help other soldiers save their dogs and cats.

As Gwen told Katie, "The [Baghdad Pups] program manager has made it pretty clear in her emails to those with animals that if some immediate funding doesn't roll in, they may not be able to rescue all 70some animals on the schedule for this fall. That would be terribly sad."

Please help Baghdad Pups help Gwen and other soldiers. Donate Now.

Third, pass this story along.

Tell your friends and let them know how they can help. The more people working to help Ratchet, the better.

If you haven't already, Sign the petition to demand release of Ratchet.

Thank you to everyone for their support and help getting attention for Ratchet. Let's keep this amazing story going. If you want to get in contact with SPCA International and Operation's Baghdad Pups on Ratchet's behalf, they have set-up a special email address for him.

Send your emails to SaveRatchet@spca.com.

~ Thanks Katie for the update!!!!

Thanks from Terrie & Rachel Scott of M.A.R.S. Safe Haven
A division of M.A.R.S. Productions

We have been working around the clock since we learned of this. We want a happy ending to this story and won't rest till we get one!

And, to EVERYONE that has spent so much time posting, emailing, calling, blogging and signing petitions in a combined effort to bring Ratchet safely home with Gwen. THANK YOU all so very much!!!!

Special thanks to the two ladies on MySpace that were up with me in the wee wee hours of the morning discussing this and what we should do to make people aware of it... And, Ron for giving 100% too.

Great news!!!!

Everyone wil be happy to hear that Sgt Beberg actually signed the survey and left a message for us all:

10:40 pm PDT, Oct 8, Gwen Beberg, Minnesota

" THANK YOU TO EVERYONE SUPPORTING MY DOG!! I can't get this done without the hundreds of people supporting me, nay, THOUSANDS! I am moved to tears. Thank you, over an over, for taking our story to heart and contributing to Ratchet's wagging tail being the first thing to greet me when I go home! ...."

Aaahhhh! What a sweetheart! Thanks for taking the time to leave us a message! HUGS!!!!!

PLEASE WATCH

Here is a video of another soldier in Iraq in the same situation as Sgt. Beberg -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ4WYuHxkK4

Please help Sgt Beberg have a happy ending like this soldier & his dog!

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