Ratchet in Washington
Photo: AP
US soldier adopts Iraqi puppy
Six-month-old puppy arrives in Minnesota after being rescued by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg from a burning pile of trash
After a long, exhausting trip, Ratchet the 6-month-old Iraqi puppy arrived in Minnesota - and promptly took a nap near the baggage claim at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Ratchet left Baghdad on Sunday, and flew from a Washington airport to Minneapolis on Wednesday.
His new mom, Army Spc. Gwen Beberg, had been trying to get Ratchet home for weeks. Beberg and another soldier rescued the dog from a burning pile of trash in May.
Ratchet with his new mom (Photo: AP)
The military bars troops from caring for pets on duty or from taking them home. But Beberg has said she couldn't have made it through her 13-month deployment without the pup.
An animal rescue group brought Ratchet to the US after the military said it could not be responsible for the dog's transportation.
In an e-mail to friends and family, Beberg says she's thankful to everyone who helped get Ratchet to Minnesota. She hopes her success will get the military to reconsider its pet policy.
She also wrote that she's excited Ratchet will be waiting for her when she gets home. She's due to leave Iraq next month.
