(March 24) — J.T. Gabriel received a message just before Thanksgiving from the wife of a Marine: Seven U.S.-supplied drug dogs were facing a certain death in Pakistan and needed to find adoptive homes.
But what began as a simple message about dogs soon became embroiled in a larger issue of U.S.-Pakistan relations.
The seven dogs were the only ones believed to be left from a group of more than two dozen specially trained canines provided to Pakistan under a counternarcotics program funded by the Pentagon. Unused and abused, the dogs were going to be euthanized within a month.
The wife of the Marine contacted the Defense Department, hoping to save the dogs. U.S. officials were sympathetic but not in a position to help. So she turned to Gabriel, who runs a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization called K9 Soldiers.
K9 Soldiers, which Gabriel founded to support military dogs, wasn’t meant to be a dog-rescue organization. But then she saw pictures of surviving dogs living in horrific conditions in Karachi, Pakistan, where they were supposed to be used by customs officials looking for narcotics.
“Of course, when I looked into the e-mail and opened the picture of the abuse these dogs had suffered, it was impossible to say no,” Gabriel said.
Three dogs were taken in by U.S. Embassy personnel in Pakistan. The only option for the other four was to bring them back to the United States because Pakistan doesn’t have a culture of dog adoption, Gabriel said.
A private individual agreed to take possession of the dogs, but K9 Soldiers still needed several thousand dollars per dog to cover the shipping costs to the United States. Gabriel was concerned about raising those funds in time. But the money started pouring in when she posted pictures of the dogs on the Web.
“We were able to raise $20,000 in two weeks,” she said, “which just floored me.”
Still, Gabriel encountered bureaucratic problems getting the dogs out of Pakistan, she said. She asked a congressman and the State Department for an inquiry into the issue, hoping to draw attention to the story of abuse.
Then she got word from someone she describes as “high up in counternarcotics in Pakistan” who asked that she take down the pictures of the abused dogs she had posted on her Web site. Apparently, the photos were embarrassing the Pakistani government.
“I was spitting bullets,” she recalled. “If they don’t want to be embarrassed, don’t treat a living thing like that.”
But she agreed to take down the pictures to move the process forward. The dogs were soon handed over and ready to be sent back to the United States. The last one, a black Labrador named “Sammy,” arrived last month.
This is not just a shaggy dog tale. The canines are part of a larger problem that has characterized U.S. security and military aid for Pakistan, which has reached more than $10 billion since 9/11. The assistance has been aimed at helping Pakistan combat militants and police its border with Afghanistan, but it has long been fraught with allegations of misuse.
One problem is that Pakistan will often accept equipment, such as helicopters, but not the training that goes with it, according to Lisa Curtis, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. “In terms of the broader security assistance, what the U.S. has tried to do is ensure that appropriate training is provided,” Curtis said. “I think in the past that has not always been the case.”
Richard Douglas, who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for counternarcotics under George W. Bush, said he couldn’t comment on the specific case of the Pakistan canines. However, he recalled declining to fund a similar drug dog program for a foreign country because of concerns that the animals would not be properly cared for.
But Douglas also said it is important to understand the unique difficulties that Pakistan faces.
“I know from personal experience that Pakistani public security forces carry a counterterror and counterdrug burden whose magnitude is not fully perceived in the West,” he said. “They do so without adequate resources and in harsh and unforgiving terrain, both topographically and politically.”
The Defense Department was not able to provide comment about the drug dogs by publication time. A spokesman for the Pakistani Embassy did not respond to a request for comment. Pakistan’s army chief is in Washington this week to meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other senior military officials as part of a week long strategic dialogue meant to strengthen bilateral relations.
For Gabriel, the issue is not relations with Pakistan, but making sure there is proper training in those countries that receive canines and proper oversight of the private contractors that supply them. “We don’t want to unnecessarily embarrass the Pakistanis,” Gabriel insisted.
Nor is providing trained dogs to allied countries always a bad thing, she noted. “I know that our military had an international canine force in Iraq, and I have heard and received pictures of Iraqis training with our American military,” she said. “They come to love the dogs and understand they aren’t wild dogs; these are dogs that have a unique talent to save citizens and military personnel from explosives and narcotics.”
In the case of the surviving Pakistan dogs, the story at least has a happy ending. The four dogs are recovering. Gabriel has found permanent homes for all of them, including one that was placed with a U.S. Navy canine handler.
“They are the happiest dogs I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Somehow they know they’re back in America.”
Author: Sharon Weinberger – AOL News.com
packing & signing boxes - Treats For Troops
TREATS FOR TROOPS/OPERATION POCKET CHANGE
WINTER 2009/2010 NEWSLETTER
COOKIES:
After several appearances in various newspapers, the community really stepped up to the plate and helped out with baking.
For the 2009 holidays, we shipped out 1500 dozen home baked cookies (18,000 cookies) and for Valentine’s Day almost 1750 dozen (21,000 cookies). A HUGE thanks to all the bakers, packers and those supporters who gave us supplies and monetary donations to keep the baking going.
LEFT OVER HALLOWEEN CANDY:
Between October 31, 2009 and January 2010, we collected about 9,000 pounds of ‘left over’ Halloween candy from caring people all over the US.
OPERATION POCKET CHANGE:
In November 2009, our postage bill was $35,000. In December 2009 just over $50,000 and with 30,000 more deployed, it is at an all time high of $60,000 monthly.
On January 1, 2010, Treats For Troops launched “Operation Pocket Change” which speaks for itself. We are asking the general public to spare us their pocket or loose change to help offset some of the costs of postage and baking supplies. If you would like to put a donation jar in your office or business, please contact us at: Karin_King@yahoo.com
Your checks and money orders are highly appreciated. Please make your check out to:
Karin_King-Treats For Troops
Mailing address:
Treats For Troops
4923 Patagonia Place
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
Ph: 813-746-1517
and please let us know if you would like a tax receipt.
The Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League paid a visit to the warehouse in Wesley Chapel on December 27, 2009 and were so impressed with the whole operation that they decided to partner with Treats For Troops in Operation Pocket Change. We collected pocket change from their fans after 5 of the home games in January 2010, and were able to ship out 13,016 pounds of much needed supplies to the remote war zones, camps, hospitals and Chaplains with little to no access to a PX (store on base) and if they do it can be a 5 hour helicopter ride away, accompanied by gun ships.
Donations and funds are always low immediately after the holidays, so we decided to do 2 drives:
FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR THE FEMALE SOLDIERS:
Need we say more? Please pick up an extra box the next time you go to the store or order online and send to the address above. Amazon.com might offer free shipping on some products.
ZIPLOC BAGS FILLED WITH GOODIES FOR THE TROOPS : simply fill a gallon size Ziploc bag with either toiletries OR snacks and ask everyone you know to do the same thing. If you are local to the Tampa bay area, we will meet you halfway to collect the bags from you. The sky is the limit, as we have over 300 remote addresses in the war zones on file.
Some suggestions to put in the Ziploc bags:
Body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, thick full size ‘baby wipes’ (some soldiers have no access to running water for days), toothbrushes, floss, body lotion, small hotel size soaps and lotions are welcome, shaving cream, razors, eye drops, if you can cramp it into the Ziploc bag, we’ll take it.
Food items: instant soups, instant beverages (drink mixes), coffee, hot chocolate, cookies, crackers, lunch box packets of crackers with tuna or chicken), cereal bars, instant b-fast, microwave popcorn, beef jerky etc.
CARDS AND LETTERS:
For the 2009 Holidays, we collected about 2500 cards and letters. For Valentine’s Day the number was just over 8,600.We highly encourage you to write a few cards and/or letters and place them in the Ziploc bags. They do wonders for the morale of our Troops.
THANK YOU LETTERS FROM THE TROOPS, VALENTINE’S DAY
Dear Mrs. King,
Thank you very much for sending the wonderful care packages with feminine items for Valentine’s Day. These items are very scarce here and very much appreciated. It is so nice knowing that we have Americans back home who are thinking of us. Your delicious treats and kind words are truly treasured. God Bless.
1LT Karly Mangen
MN Army National Guard
**********************
Dear Mrs. King,
Just a short note to thank you for the box with feminine hygiene products, cookies and other treats we received for Valentine’s Day. Many of your treats and items went to soldiers beginning a 3 day journey across Iraq, delivering equipment to soldiers in Mosul that will keep us safer. Your treats were a welcome blessing on the long journey north. The feminine items were shared with all the female soldiers here who are so grateful with a little comfort from home.
Many thanks,
Imogene Brasic,
401st AFSB, SWA, Box 152
************************
SPECIAL THANK YOU NOTES:
Not to leave anyone out, but a few special thank you notes are in order:
Kelvin Woodson from The Tampa Bay Lightning for making it possible for Treats For Troops/Operation Pocket Change to collect pocket change from the TBL fans in January 2010, which enabled us to ship out 13,016 pounds of much needed supplies to the remote war zones, camps, hospitals and Chaplains.
Jim Deitch, CEO of Southern Crafted Homes for getting so many caring, sincere Realtors involved in Treats For Troops/Operation Pocket Change and for being there with us every step of the way.
MEDLINE: for donating 50 cases with 50 packets of FULL SIZE wash cloths (big baby wipes). The impact these wipes have is beyond words as sometimes our soldiers do not have access to running water.
Kyle Lojacono from THE LAKER: who wrote a couple of fantastic articles about Treats For Troops and who really got the ball rolling for us.
Pam Tucker Tanner, owner of THE PASCO NATURALLY: for being with us every step of the way and to get the nudist community in Pasco County involved
Pam Hayes: for orchestrating all the donations (home baked cookies, Ziploc bags, checks, ca$h, cards and letters) from Lake Como
Treats For Troops & Operation Pocket Change
Until they ALL come home!
On Saturday morning, Jan 30th, after an invitation from Karin King, I joined a group of volunteers at a warehouse in Wesley Chapel owned by Bob Williams www.ourtroupsonline.com . We went on a tour inside the 35,000 square ft warehouse where we were struck with awe to see the sheer volume of donations and generosity of businesses like Starbucks, Lance’s and Dunkin Donuts and the general public. After the tour, we packed 69 pound boxes full of home baked cookies, other food items, cigars, toiletries, candy, handmade cards from school children, you name it, we tried to fit it in these boxes.
Many of our Troops and Chaplains in the remote war zones and military hospitals do not have access to a PX (store on base) and if they do, the PX is scarcely stocked, if at all, or can be a 5 hour helicopter ride away, escorted by gun ships. Their families simply do not have the means to purchase items that their family member on the front line needs and pay the expensive postage to get the care package where it needs to go.
Treats For Troops www.TreatsForTroops.info stepped up the plate a couple of years ago and in conjunction with Support The Troops www.ourtroopsonline.com is sending 69 pound care packages to the troops at these locations 365 days of the year. They have 250 addresses on file and some receive more than 1 box a day, depending on their needs.
‘Operation Pocket Change’
In November ’09, the postage for shipping was about $35,000, in December it was well over $50,000 and with 30,000 more troops deploying, we can only imagine what the costs will be. So many that we know, have deployed already and many have been shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan the past week without notice, and with only the belongings they had with them that day.
On January 1, 2010, we launched “Operation Pocket Change” where we are asking the general public to help us offset the costs for shipping by donating their “pocket” or “spare” change. Every little bit helps and it makes a significant difference in the lives of so many. Everyone can participate as it is a very simple concept. Everyone has loose change.
Another way to help with postage, is to go to this Post Office, pick up a 20-45 lbs box that is ready for shipment and pay the postage. The boxes are inside the post office, on display against the wall on the right where you are standing in line, you cannot miss them. Postage for the smaller boxes is between $20.00 and $45.00. Postage is approximately 1.00 per lb.
US Post Office
5804 Boyette Rd
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545
ph: 813-991-7846
If people would like to volunteer at the warehouse, they can send an e-mail to Bob Williams at SIFT@aol.com or call him at: 813-991-9400. It’s better to coordinate with him in advance, especially if groups want to volunteer.
If anyone would like to help bake cookies or have their church, school, social organization, girls/boys scouts troops involved in baking cookies or making cards, they can get in touch with Karin King: Karin_King@yahoo.com or call her: 813-746-1517 or on Facebook Website: TreatsForTroops.Info
If anyone wants to start collecting ‘Pocket Change’ (maybe at their office, social group, etc.), they can get in touch with Jim King: privateislands@yahoo.com or call him: 813-746-1517
The public can donate postage dollars by sending a check to:
Karin King-Treats For Troops
4923 Patagonia Place
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
ph: 813-746-1517
www.TreatsForTroops.INFO
Treats For Troops is currently doing a “gallon size Ziploc bags full of goodies” drive where we are asking the community to buy supplies and fill gallon size Ziploc bags. This is a fun project that can be done with co-workers, at your kid’s school, church, social club, etc.
All bags are needed by March 15th so Treats for Troops can ship them out for Passover and Easter:
Just two rules: do NOT mix food with soap items. The food will taste like soap. Please NO chocolate. By the time we collect all the baggies, it will be warmer here and in the Middle East. The chocolate will melt.
NON-FOOD ITEMS:
*Feminine Hygiene Products *Shampoo *Body Wash *Body Lotion *Deodorant *Toothpaste *Toothbrushes *Floss *Mouthwash *Baby Wipes *Soap * Disposable Cameras, *Batteries (AA and C) *Visine or other Eye Drops *Phone cards (by unit is best) *Envelopes *Stationary *Pens * Hand Sanitizer *Travel Games *Playing Cards *Lip Balm *Sun Screen *Q-Tips *Shaving Cream * Razors, *Small Hotel Soaps & Shampoos are very popular.
FOOD ITEMS:
*Instant Soups *Instant Beverages (drink mixes) *Ice Teas *Lemonade *Kool-Aid (with sugar already mixed) *Coffee *Tea *Hot Chocolate *small packets ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise *Tabasco Sauce *Cookies *Crackers (plain & cheese) especially lunch box packs w/ individual servings * Cereal Bars *Granola Bars *Microwave Popcorn *Power Bars *Single Serve Fruit Cups *Beef Jerky *Slim Jims *Foil Bag Tuna or Tuna Snack “Kits”
And as always: cards and letters! They do wonders for the morale of our Troops.
Karin King & Lynda Damiata