Sample Letter

Thank you very much to Matt for writing this for us.  He posted it in the comments on Digg.

Dear MN Senator/Representative.

My name is [xxxxxxxxxxxxxx], and I am contacting you regarding an appalling incident regarding a citizen of your state, Sgt. Gwen Beberg, who is currently deployed in the Middle East.

While serving our country for 15 months longer than anticipated as a result of the stop-loss policy, Beberg saved and befriended a puppy, Ratchet, who has help her survive and maintain her sanity through her difficult time overseas.

Anxious to return home with her new friend, Beberg attempted to utilize a unique service named Baghdad Pups that provides clearance and transport to animals that U.S. soldiers have come to love while deployed.

Unfortunately, Ratchet was seized by the military while on the way to the Baghdad airport. According the SPCA press release, "soldiers can face immediate court-marshal [for befriending animals] and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules."

Baghdad Pups is making another trip from Baghdad on October 15th, and Ratchet must be released by the military before that so he can be on the flight.   Sgt Beberg will be shipping out later this month and Ratchet will have to be abandoned to certain death if he doesn't leave before her.

I hope it is needless to say that this is cruel and unusual punishment not only for Ratchet, but for Beberg who has served her country and only dared to care about an innocent puppy during her time on tour.

I hope this message finds you quickly, as there is still time to act to save Ratchet's life and prevent this horrible injustice from going any further than is necessary.

For your reference, here are additional resources pertinent to the matter:

http://www.spca.com/press/item/56
http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/10/baghdad-pups. ...
http://www.baghdadpups.com/

Thank you for your time, and I sincerely hope you can help Sgt. Gwen Beberg and her friend Ratchet.

Sincerely,
[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]