Dog Rescued by US Army Captain to arrive on Long Island October 24, 2012

Oct. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Rachel is a helicopter pilot stationed in Afghanistan and a Captain in the US Army. In the midst of war, while out on a detail with her unit, the team found an innocent, wounded, and starving puppy in a burn pit/trash pile. He was tossed away to be burned alive. They saved the pup, named him Toby, and nursed him back to health.  Unable to keep Toby with them anymore, Rachel and her unit were faced with the unthinkable... Euthanize their best friend, leave him to fend for himself, or bring him home.

Rachel’s family reached out to Guardians of Rescue to help and we sprung in to action. Toby was transferred to The Nowzad Shelter in Kabul, Afghanistan while we raised the funds to bring him home.  We finally reached our goal of $5,172.00 (he’s a big boy) and were able to get a flight for him. Toby will be landing in NYC at JFK on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 8:15AM.

Rachel is still deployed, and will not be home until January, 2013. Until she returns, Guardians of Rescue has arranged for Toby to be cared for by Hounds Town – Port Jefferson, where he will undergo a training program to adjust to life here in the United States. When Rachel returns, we will have Toby transported to her in Texas, so they can finally be reunited.

We asked Rachel why Toby was so important to her... her answer was simple “He is a bright spot and joy in a place far from anything familiar.” These dogs are family, reminders of home, best friends and sometimes even protectors. The men and women of the US military deserve our support, and Guardians of Rescue is determined to assist in any way needed.  In honor of the memory of the moment where a soldier saves a dog and a dog saves a soldier, we will be there for them.

A group of High School Students in Beverly, MA have jumped on board to help assist us in reuniting Toby and Rachel. The Beverly High School DECA program is raising money and awareness of animals that are found stranded in war-battered areas in Afghanistan and rescued by American Troops. More information can be found on the school’s website: http://www.bhsonline.org. The group consists of seven students who have been working hard to help the cause. They are determined to help cover the cost of Toby’s care here in the US, and his final flight home to Rachel. They are also working with us on several other Military Dog & Cat Projects. We are very proud of them. They are in a national competition, and selected Guardians of Rescue as their group project. We are honored.

If you’d like to help with Toby’s care while he is here in the US and his final transport to Rachel in Texas, please visit www.Guardiansofrescue.org or www.Facebook.com/GuardiansOfRescue. To help the kids at Beverly HS with their project visit and like their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BhsGaurdiansOfRescue?ref=stream.

Flight Info:   Arriving JFK 10/24/2012 8:15am  Emirates Flight EK203

Contact: Meredith Festa, Director of Programs, Guardians of Rescue 888-287-3864

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/12006603/2