SO NOW, A UK ANIMAL WELFARE CHARITY STEPS IN TO TAKE UP THE CASE !
Subject:
UK – An animal rescue charity ( Society for Welfare of Horses and Ponies )
has offered to bring Sandbag ( mascot dog ) to the UK from Iraq. (and what about the kitty??? doesn’t any group want to step forward to bring Hesco to the UK????)
Over 33,000 people have joined a Facebook group supporting the ‘hero’ Iraqi dog
A petition to save the ‘hero’ dog was rejected by Downing Street yesterday but a ‘disgusted’ charity worker has vowed to defy the Government.
Sandbag the dog has been living with British soldiers at their base in Um Qasa, near Basra, and is credited with bringing them good luck.
When the base was handed over to US forces in May, authorities said Sandbag – and fellow mascot Hesco the cat – would not be returning with the British troops.
But now Emma Simpson of the Society for Welfare of Horses and Ponies has begun work to give the dog a home.
The charity will cover the initial £5,000 cost before launching a new foundation to raise the money.
She told Sky News Online: “As soon as I heard the plea was rejected, I thought: ‘God damn it! He’s not bloody staying – he’s coming here!’ ”
Emma Simpson was alerted to Sandbag’s plight on Facebook
Sandbag gained his name because of his golden coat and his ability to protect troops.
The Iraqi dog rumoured to have survived being shot five times.
More than 6,000 (just British) people signed a petition on the Number 10 website to ‘Save Sandbag the Dog’ – only for the plea to be turned down.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman was unable to say whether the offer of funding would change the decision, but said it was clear the dog would be well cared for in Iraq.
“Calls for Sandbag to be brought back to the UK were on the basis of fears that he might be put down, but American forces based at Um Qasa have promised to look after him, so he is in very safe hands,” he said.
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The response from the British Government is as follows.
As with British politics today, animal welfare comes very low on their list of priorities. Everyone and anyone can enter the Uk; but animals from Iraq ? – definite ‘No’.
Still, we all vote, and the British elections are soon; maybe time for a Green, non Labour, non Conservative government in the Uk.
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20246
SAV.
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Thursday 6 August 2009
Sandbag – epetition response
We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to save Sandbag the Dog.”
Details of Petition:
“There is a dog that has been helping the Military in Basra and when the troops pull out he will be left there,probably to die! He must be allowed to return to the UK with the Troops he has served alongside.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
Thank you for the e-petition regarding Sandbag the dog who has been one of two mascot animals, along with Hesco the cat, living with our troops at the port of Umm Quasar, near Basra, in Iraq.
The Prime Minister visited Umm Quasar last December and announced that British combat troops would be withdrawing from Iraq in the first half of 2009. This means that the base in Umm Quasar where Sandbag and Hesco were living has now been handed over to American forces.
Our US colleagues have assured us that both Sandbag and Hesco will be well cared for. Both are currently fit and healthy. As they had lived on the base since birth, British forces felt that staying there would be best for Sandbag and Hesco.
Commanders on the ground always take decisions on the future of mascot animals on a case by case basis. The Government supports the decision taken in this case.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional |
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 
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