Paws of War helps military members with the help of people in the community
NESCONSET, New York – (February 19, 2024) – The old saying that it takes a village is one that the organization Paws of War knows all too well. If it were not for the people in the community who step up and support what they do, they would have a difficult time being successful in completing their missions. Thanks to the support of people who believe in what they are doing and in giving back to members of our military, they can continue helping soldiers get their rescued companion animals to America following their deployment coming to an end.
“Most of us want to give back to our soldiers who give so much for us,” says Robert Misseri, the co-founder of Paws of War. “When we all work together on our missions, we give back to them in a meaningful way that they will never forget.”
Paws of War's missions for our military members span the globe. Following the recent tragic drone strike that killed three soldiers, the organization became intertwined. In the days leading up to the drone attack, the group had rescued two cats named Frankie and Danielle from the region for two soldiers deployed there. On the day the attack took place, Paws of War was attempting to rescue six puppies for soldiers deployed in the area.
Once the attack happened and the situation on the ground changed, the group was forced to abandon the rescue mission. They would not give up, so after three additional failed attempts, they got those six, plus another one from the same litter, to safety. The dogs are now getting the necessary veterinary care, and Paws of War is coordinating the mission to bring them to the soldiers' in the U.S.
Additional missions they are currently connected to include:
- The therapy dog, Blaze, that Paws of War had rescued and U.S. Force Captain William Kilgore adopted is presently at the Dover Air Force base with the captain as he was on standby and ready if he was needed to help console the families of the fallen soldiers brought back from the drone attack.
- Derek Cartwright, a U.S. Army Airborne veteran, was delivering Danielle and Frankie to their soldiers in the New England area. At the same time, another Paws of War team was reuniting a dog rescued by a soldier overseas with him at his home in Texas.
- A rescue taking place in Africa for five puppies. Getting them to safety for the soldiers involves two boats, two donkeys, a car, three push carts, and 15 people working together. This will help get them through the first leg of the trip, which will take around eight hours.
- Three weeks ago, Niki Dawson, a Paws of War team member, flew to Kuwait for a mission that involved rescuing three dogs and four cats. The companion animals had been rescued by troops deployed there, and despite having paid reservations for the animals and all the paperwork being approved, some last-minute rule grounded the flight the animals were on. After several days working with foreign embassies and authorities they were able to get the animals on the flight and safely to America.
“Paws of War's mission spans the globe but hits home in big cities and small towns across America as these animals make it to their forever homes with their heroes providing a lifetime of love and support,” adds Misseri. “It truly takes a village to do what we do, and we're grateful so many are part of it. We really need community support as a surge in cases is putting our mission to save these animals at risk. We never want to be in the position of telling a solider that we can’t save their pet.”
Paws of War also focuses on giving back to veterans in various ways. They have helped veterans with numerous issues, including suicide prevention, service and support dogs, companion cats and dogs, food insecurity, veterinary care, etc. Paws of War has a large loyal following of supporters and looks forward to working with new corporate sponsors to support these life-saving programs. To donate to help their mission, visit its site at: https://pawsofwar.org/?form=Village
About Paws of War
Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides companion animals to veterans and first responders. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or donate, visit its site at http://pawsofwar.org.
