SANDBAG & HESCO
SANDBAG & HESCO
UPDATE 05.10.09
We are so thrilled to confirm that all the dogs and the cat have arrived safely due to the combined effort of Emma Simpson, Louise Hastie and the Blue Cross.
They arrived at the quarantine kennels at 9pm on the 1st October 09 after a long journey, where they had been delayed at Amsterdam for 4 hours, due to a foreign vet not understanding the rules. They all travelled really well, and were very tired. Hesco the cat was very traumatised and so no photo's have been taken of the cat yet. Here are all the dogs photographed at their really lovely quarantine kennels, where they will be for the next 6 months. They will be due for release in March 2010 and in the meantime they will be visited on a regular basis.
Sandbag on the right with his son Dirtbag
Royal
Emma with Sandbag - So relieved to have them back safely
UPDATE 29.09.09
Great news! Sandbag, Dirtbag (his son), Hesco the cat and Royal the Royal Navy Dog are flying into the UK in the next couple of days. They will then all be going into quarantine for 6 months. Well done to Emma Simpson for initiating the whole rescue and all her hard work day and night over the last few months, to Louise of the Baghdad cat rescue centre who has been selfless in the work she has done to get this little group back to the UK safely, and to the Blue Cross who were able to facilitate the collection of donations from people who wanted to help these special animals.
UPDATE 17.09.09
We are pleased to confirm that Hesco the cat has now joined the three dogs in Bhagdad and are being cared for by Louise who we are so very grateful to and for all the work she has put in to make the rescue possible.
UPDATE - 24.08.09
The case of Sandbag and Hesco, a cat and dog which had to be abandoned in Basra when British troops moved on, has been reported widely over the last week or so. Since then another two dogs have been reported in a similar situation needing urgent intervention. The animals had been looked after by British troops but were left facing an uncertain and bleak future when troops were withdrawn.
We are happy to report that the three dogs whose lives were in imminent danger have now been taken to a safe house in Baghdad. Sandbag, Dirtbag and Royal were collected by an armoured team of British soldiers. When they went to collect the dogs, they found them abandoned to the streets despite being assured by the US military that they would be taken care of until they could be collected. One of the dogs Royal, is a Royal Navy dog and has been in Basra for five years since a pup, her brother Jack was killed by Iraqis last week. A US chief contacted Louise at Baghdad Cat Rescue to ask if we could help with taking Royal to a place of safety, saying; "under general order 1, the US are not allowed to have any animals and all animals will be destroyed, we feel for her safety and time is running out". Luckily for Royal, she has now been assured a happy ending and is safe with Sandbag and Dirtbag. This rescue was not without event and it was just as well that the animals were in an armoured troop carrier since they were shot at several times on the way back.
The cat Hesco is also safe, but still at the port because she escaped on the day the dogs were collected!
None of the animals will be allowed to fly until the end of September because of restrictions due to the heat. On arrival in the UK they will be quarantined for six months in Kent.
The whole operation has been co-ordinated by SWHP field officer, Emma Simpson who first heard of the plight of the animals through Facebook. She has worked tirelessly and has been in constant contact with Louise at Baghdad cat rescue, without whom, none of this would have been possible. Whilst the Blue cross have been collecting money for the cause, the operation is going to cost more than first anticipated, due to the discovery of the extra dogs. If you wish to help this cause, please contact us.