From the SPA
Don’t leave buddies behind
By Janielle Penner

What is it about animals that fascinates us? I don’t think it is simply their behavior. When they wag their tails or purr in our ear they are endearing, but I think it is the things we have in common that create the strongest bonds.

To me, what’s most captivating about them is the way they express themselves in both love and anger. They are multi-faceted creatures that have so much love and companionship to offer that it is easy to take it for granted. 

I recently read an article about a dog in Sydney, Australia, that was found inside a burning home, protecting a litter of kittens from the fire. The dog refused to leave them. He and the kittens were saved, but the dog suffered from smoke inhalation and had to be resuscitated. This depth of compassion is remarkable. The instinct to risk one’s life for the sake of saving another is amazing to see in an animal, especially between different species.

It is stories like this that make me stop to appreciate the love and devotion I get from the animals in my care. I recently followed with great interest the news stories about Ratchet, a dog adopted in Iraq by 28-year-old Army Specialist Gwen Beberg. She and another soldier rescued the puppy from a burning pile of garbage in May, but military rules bar troops from caring for pets while in Iraq. A rescue operation called Operation Baghdad Pups, spearheaded by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and also involving Sgt. Beberg's congressional representative, is credited with having rescued about 50 dogs and 6 cats so far. The animals were moved from Iraq to the United States despite the Army's rule that forbids Central Command personnel from adopting animals. More than 30,000 people signed an online petition to allow Ratchet to be brought to Minneapolis, Beberg’s home. The motto of the operation is “no buddy gets left behind.”

The SPA has a lot of great animals that should not be left behind. Two such sweet creatures are Orejas and Buffy. 

Words and pictures do not do justice to Orejas, a large, tan, mixed-breed dog with a black snout. He is energetic, has a big personality and would make a great companion for the right person with an active lifestyle. Play with him, go for walks and rub his belly and he will be a very grateful friend. He is about six years old and is quite attentive.

Buffy is gorgeous, in a word. Her tan coat is almost a soft rose color and her elegance is striking. She is tall and lean, and cats like her are the reason the fashion stage is referred to as a “catwalk.” She is gentle and alert, and she would be a beautiful addition to a loving home.