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Thank You from Afganistan!

At the May meeting, the SOTC Club Members once again provided a WONDERFUL outpouring of support at for Nancy Murphy's gear-gathering project for her military veterinarian niece stationed in Afghanistan.

Submitted by Nancy Murphy's neice, Capatin Diane:

May 27, 2011

We are so excited about the packages. The first two (#1 & #2) arrived Tuesday and the other two (#3 & #4) arrived yesterday. It is just wonderful. Had some patients today who provide security for the US Embassy personnel and gave them a few baggies of the Lean treats for their dogs (that group really keeps their dogs in great condition). Also have an explosive detection dog visiting for the weekend providing a combat stress role. She is a chocolate lab with no handler at the moment, so we invited her to get out of the kennels and provide some therapy/combat stress relief for the Soldiers and civilians living on Camp Phoenix (our base). Basically we walk her around to offices/public areas to interact with Soldiers and civilians - it is a little pilot program that myself and the Behavioral Health Officer have been working on, although they do have true combat stress dogs in theater, we do not have one in our area, so I tested a few dogs without handlers to check their temperment and she was the best fit for the job. It looks to be a success already, although makes people miss their own dogs back home.

Lucy (the choc. lab) loves the kongs that were sent. The food bowls arrived just in time for her to eat tonight and allows us to take a water bowl (non jumbo size) with us as we take her around camp to greet people.

Finally, an update: Edu (tail dog), was released from our care and back to his company and able to be assigned a new handler right away, so he is working again and his tail is causing him no more issues or pain- a real success after his long saga. and three surgeries!

We cannot tell you how much we appreciate the generosity of your members. It has been such a blessing to have the simple basics to be able to support these patients— these amazing creatures who save people's lives!

Thank you again,
Diane