No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home From the Combat Zone by Terri Crisp; C. J. Hurn

realized with a growing smile. Bringing home a U.S. soldier's dog was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.
    During the return flight to Kuwait, I was allowed once again to visit with Liberty and K-Pot. The Gryphon flight attendants brought me a large bottle of water and helped to fill the dogs' dishes. After the dogs were settled, I joined the attendants in the galley. They treated me to orange juice and stories of their own dogs at home in Spain.
    In just two trips to Baghdad, I'd formed a team that I wouldn't have thought possible only four months earlier. With my new friends at PAWS, the Plaza Athenee Hotel staff in Kuwait, the Gryphon Airline folks, and the men at SLG, I felt safe and at home in this foreign place. Operation Baghdad Pups had now transitioned from a desire to save one dog into a program I hoped would save many more.
    After landing I approached the transfer desk at the Kuwait airport feeling confident about the next half of my mission. That was a mistake. In a few minutes I would be reminded of how quickly things can change when traveling in the Middle East.
    "You're back!" The United counter man, who had run a marathon for Charlie the last time, recognized me instantly. "I assume you have a dog with you tonight?"
    "Actually I have two." I handed over my passport.
    He glanced up at the clock. His look of relief that he wouldn't have to run another marathon confirmed we had arrived in plenty of time. Everything should go smoothly now that he and I knew the routine.

    "Terri Crisp," he called out a few minutes later, holding the weight slip. "The total cost for the two dogs will be 216 dinars." I handed him my debit card. As the receipt began printing, the agent's face fell.
    "The card has been declined. I'm sorry."
    Having double-checked my online bank balance before I left the hotel, I knew there were sufficient funds in the account. I had also informed the credit union of my travel plans so that it would recognize the Kuwait purchase as legitimate.
    "Can you try running it again?"
    The man ran the card a second time. Again it was declined.
    By the time I could make alternative arrangements for payment, our flight would already be gone. My biggest worry was Liberty and K-Pot. Linette and Brenda had previously told me that bringing dogs through customs into Kuwait wasn't possible due to the government's fear that animals from Iraq would bring in diseases. The puppies certainly could not remain in the airport for twenty-four hours confined to their crates in the cargo area. People here would be too afraid to give them food or water, let alone to walk them.
    K-Pot and Matt taking a break Matt MacDonough

    "I assume you want to cancel your ticket and the dogs' reservations," the agent said as he handed a boarding pass to the last remaining passenger.
    "Yes, go ahead." My voice trailed off to almost a whisper. He looked at me and hesitated.
    "I have to go to the gate now and help board passengers, but I'll show you where the dogs are first, if you like."
    I followed him to the baggage claim area, all the while trying to figure out what I was going to do. I kept coming to the same conclusion. Because going back to Iraq was no longer an option, somehow I had to get Liberty and K-Pot through Customs. But if the Customs officers discovered where they were from, the dogs' destruction was a very real possibility.
    "I'm so sorry I couldn't do more," the agent said after he led me to the dogs. He surprised me by reaching out to shake my hand, a gesture rarely seen in this part of the world between a man and woman who are not related. After saying goodbye, he hurried off to the boarding gate where I was supposed to be. Even with my two traveling companions, I suddenly felt terribly alone.

K-Pot and his new American buddies Danielle Berger
    imes like these seem to turn on my adrenaline pump, and I shift into high gear. I had to figure out how to handle this particular problem quickly. First I checked to make