          |
   |
|
  |
||||||
|
Bear Is Home! Pet Protection Day at The Glen Orphans of the Storm Benefit Dinner 2006 Lake County Vaccination Clinic Holiday Wrapping with the Orphans   
|
|
|
|
Bear Is Home! This past monday, April 2nd, Bear arrived home to begin her new life at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Steve Radloff, our own Waukegan soldier whose unit had rescued Bear in Afghanistan, reports that Bear is adjusting to the American way of life, and his new Jack Russell sister, Kaila. Bear loves car rides, playing tug-of-war with Kaila and is getting quite good at walking on a leash. Steve sends a big thank you to everyone who helped in this journey. Because of the generosity of our community many rescued dogs and cats of our military in Afghanistan will be coming home to the United States. Pam Constable, of the Afghan Stray Animal League, has sent word that she is currently working with several stateside families who are having trouble raising the funds needed to make their military loved one's pet transport happen. She has asked if she could use some of our funds towards these specific families. On behalf of all of the donors, I responded that we have total faith in her decision as to who receives help from our "Bear" fund. She should use our money to help whoever she sees as the most urgent and needy. We just ask that when all is said and done, we get full reports on the animals that our fund helped. And a photo or two would be nice. Our "Bring Bear Home" fund raised well over $9,000 to date. As checks continue to come in, they will be forwarded directly to the "Bear" fund at the Tigger House shelter in Kabul to help future military pets. Steve's story touched a lot of hearts and grew into a force that will go on to make a difference in many lives and fund the journey of many military rescued pets. If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to this cause, you may write directly to Pam Constable c/o The Afghan Stray Animal League, 3823 South 14th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204. To read more about the work of Pam Constable. Go to HSUS.org and do a search for "Tigger House". There is an excellent story on her. Also, on April 23, Ms Constable will be the featured speaker at the Orphans of the Storm Benefit Dinner. For more information or reservations for the dinner see our website home page. www.orphansofthestorm.org or email jborchew@orphansofthestorm.org 
Follow-up story: A Big "Bear" Hug To All of You! The story of Steve and Bear touched your heart as it did ours. From Steve's first email, we knew we had to reach out and try, and with your help, we succeeded. Together, in less than one week, we raised, not only the $2,300 needed to bring Bear home, but enough to help another soldier's companion on the waiting list. As of today, Friday, March 16, 2007, we have raised $5,415. Bear has now left the comfort zone of her friend Staff Sgt. Steven Radloff, in Khandahar City, and is on her way to Kabul, where she will find refuge and safe haven at the shelter, The Tigger House (the only animal shelter in the country), until her transport papers and plans are complete. We do not know the exact date of Steve's, or Bear's return to the states. We are told "around the end of the month." At this point, our official fund raising for Bear is considered a complete success! But if you missed out and would like to donate to the very special work of this Kabul animal shelter, you may do so by sending your check directly to: The Afghan Stray Animal League, c/o Pam Constable, 3823 South 14th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204. Checks should be made out to: The Afghan Stray Animal League. A representative of the Kabul animal shelter, Tigger House, will be our guest speaker this year at Orphans' Annual Benefit Dinner on April, 23. Watch this website for more information. You can read the original story of Bear below. Keep checking in for more updates on Steve and Bear. Original story: Bring Bear Home Army Staff Sergeant Steven A. Radloff of Waukegan was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2006. His unit soon after rescued an orphaned puppy. Since then, Bear, as the puppy has come to be known, has kept company at their fire base, and become a comfort to the soldiers of Steven's unit. Steven has especially bonded with his now five-month-old lab-mix friend. Now Steven's unit has received word they are returning to base at Fayetteville, North Carolina, by the end of the month. The army rules do not allow a dog to accompany a soldier home. Bear must remain behind in a very unsafe situation. Orphans of the Storm animal shelter received email from Steve asking for any help. He is truly afraid for Bear's life if he must be left behind. Well, we have been in contact with the Humane Society of the United States. Their international group (Humane Society International) will take care of the paper work through their shelter in Kabul and The Afghan Stray Animal League. But they cannot cover the flight expense. The cost to fly Bear home from Afghanistan is $2300. A little steep for Steve. Please help us raise the funds to fly Bear into North Carolina where he can meet up with Steve and start a new life. For more information contact Jackie Borchew / Orphans of the Storm animal shelter (847) 940-8508 or jborchew@orphansofthestorm.org for more information.
|
|
|
|
|