How to help a deployed soldier with a Christmas miracle

Most people appreciate members of the military, but may not know what they can do to show their support. Paws of War is helping to make it easier than ever, by asking members of the community to chip in and support a mission to relocate two abandoned puppies that were rescued overseas by a U.S. soldier, Staff Sgt. Jay. With him going home for a brief holiday stay, he will have the best Christmas ever if they can pull off the mission.

“We desperately want to make sure these pups are back in the U.S. when Staff Sgt. Jay gets his holiday visit home,” explains Dereck Cartright, a disabled veteran who is the stateside logistics coordinator at Paws of War. “He is going to surprise his wife and children with the two puppies for Christmas, which is going to be something amazing to be a part of helping to make happen.”

Staff Sgt. Jay has seen firsthand the cruel ways that stray dogs are treated where he is stationed overseas. He’s witnessed the horrible conditions, which include starvation, being hit by cars, and poor treatment by locals. Being a dog lover and having an 11-year old English Mastiff back home with declining health, he had to take action when he saw a couple of puppies in desperate need of help.

While out on patrol, he drove up on two small female puppies that had been thrown out over the bank on the side of the road in a cardboard box. The puppies were malnourished, in poor health, frightened, and in need of care. After waiting for a while to give them a chance to become comfortable around him, he made the move to give them food and water. From that point on, there was an inseparable bond and a mission to make the puppies, which he named Luna and Lejla, a permanent part of his family back in the Northeast in America.

“I reached out to Paws of War, because I’ve heard so many good things about how they help military members with situations like this,” says Staff Sgt. Jay. “I have been granted a short holiday stay back home, and it will be a miracle if I can get Luna and Lejla back there at the same time to introduce them to the rest of the family and we can all spend the holiday together. I can’t wait to make them a permanent part of my family.”

In order to help get the two adorable puppies back to safely in the U.S., Paws of War will need financial support from the community. There are fees associated with making such a mission, including the necessary medical evaluations and treatments, paperwork, and transportation expenses.

People can help make Staff Sgt. Jay’s Christmas miracle come true by making a financial donation to support the mission. All size contributions are appreciated and can be made by visiting: https://pawsofwar.networkforgood.com/projects/149360-help-save-luna-and-lejla.

The mission comes with expenses, including complex travel arrangements, veterinary care, paperwork, etc. Many service members stationed around the world rescue cats and dogs and become attached to them. The pets bring them peace and comfort, and put smiles on their faces. Paws of War has made it its mission to help get those pets to safety in America when the time arrives. It has helped many service members to get their rescued pets relocated following deployment.

About Paws of War

Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides assistance to military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides companion animals to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or to make a donation, visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org.