The Tribune | Weekend | 15
Friday, September 3, 2021
animals
SERVICEWOMEN and military working dogs were honoured with a new sculpture that was unveiled at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia last year.
Confusion with reporting in America Animal matters | KIM ARANHA
A
mid all the fuss and mayhem of the American pull-out from Afghanistan there are many victims. Many of these victims have a voice or those who provide a voice for them. The world worries and frets about what my will happen to the girls who have been educated, the men and women who have served as guides and interpreters, the child who is caught up in the metaphoric and actual crossfire - their cries of anguish reverberate in our heads. It is such a catastrophic pity that so many people are falling prey to the consequences that are caused by this massive exodus. Reassuring, no doubt for many is the fact that very many men, women and children have been airlifted to countries already where they will not be persecuted, some mental relief can come from that. There have been countless reports that dogs have been left behind, the Pentagon, however, has been very quick to deny that not any military dogs were left behind after the overwhelming uproar around the world in the wake of these reports. The Pentagon assures us that the dog crates lined up on the tarmac belonged to a rescue group whose owner, Charlotte Maxwell - Jones, was trying to secure space on planes for their evacuation. The additional assurance that all
military and service dogs affiliated to the US Military, have indeed returned to proper and safe kennels and home in the United States. Photos have been supplied! This is not the first time that the military has been accused of being uncaring and heartless. Perhaps the powerful men who sit at the top and give orders as they push pencils in the air-conditioning, whilst young men and women and brave canines risk their lives daily at the command of those who remain in safety, will understand how passionate some of us can feel about the treatment of animals. Those in charge should never be allowed to forget about the ones who actually risk taking the bullet or being tortured. Animals play an enormous role in war, conflict and peace keeping, their presence is often forgotten. It is heartening to hear that all these negative reports were totally inaccurate. I was so very delighted to learn that President Joe Biden owned a shelter animal. The photographs of the new president of the United States of America with his dog from a rescue centre filled animal rescuers all over the world with warm and fuzzy feelings. Finally, somebody in the White House who gets it! Good news indeed… then when these accusatory reports came flooding in, I could barely hold the tears back. It was more than I could to not despair for the fear and confusion that those poor brave and so very necessary canines would
PET OF THE WEEK
By The Bahamas Humane Society
Mario turned out to be very difficult to photograph as he kept trying to snuggle up to the photographer! This one-yearold started out as a yard cat at the Bahamas Humane Society but has decided he’d much rather be an indoor cat after all. He’s not at all bothered by other cats or even dogs, but his favourite are humans, especial-
ly when they’re trying to walk by. Those legs are just so great to twine up against. Mario’s very sociable and outgoing and would love to find a home of his own soon. If you’d like, come in to meet him or call 323-5138 for more information. Mario looks forward to tripping you up... erm, meeting you!
have felt over such a reckless and ruthless abandonment, if it were true, thank goodness, we are being reassure that those were totally inaccurate. So now we face a huge contradiction: American Humane president and CEO Robin Ganzert actually issued a statement saying that he was “ devastated by reports that the American government is pulling out of Kabul and leaving behind brave US military contract working dogs to be tortured and killed at the hand of our enemies.” On the other hand, the Pentagon insists that no military or service dog was left behind. These statements are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. So who is telling the truth, which story it true? How can two such different stories be reported? What is the general public ever expected to believe? If there are no dogs left behind, then who is going to help those 150 dogs left behind from the Kabul Small Animal Rescue group? If nothing else, the uproar over these conflicting stories must showcase to the world, and the leaders, that millions of people out there really do care and want to see
• The BHS Thrift Shop is open. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 3pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We sell gently used items to raise funds for the shelter. If you’d like to donate, we’d be grateful to accept your donation. If the shop is closed, please leave them in the main shelter. Thank you!
all animals treated with respect. All service animals need to be appreciated for the risky jobs that are forced upon them, they have no choice. Options are a luxury that animals do not get to enjoy very often. Another interesting question that arises in the midst of the social media confusion is, how did this all start? If indeed the animals shown in the photographs were not owned by the US government, then who on earth started the story and why didn’t the American Humane Society do more research before issuing their statement? Was this perhaps a political ploy...please, God, no. The well-being of service dogs does not need to join the ranks of political babble. I hope with all my heart that I can believe the latest reports that all serving American canines have got out on airlifts and are resting comfortably somewhere safe. We really need to be grateful for the service animals provide during any military conflict. It is disgraceful that they could ever become objects of political conflict.
(Photo/Linda Gill-Aranha)
