ohmidog!

Ratchet, a dog adopted by a U.S. soldier in Iraq, was put aboard a plane to Kuwait today and is expected to be flown to Washington tomorrow, CNN reported.

Operation Baghdad Pups, a project of SPCA International, said once a veterinarian determines the dog is healthy he will be flown to Minnesota — the home state of Sgt. Gwen Beberg, one of a group of soliders who saved Ratchet from a burning trash pile.

Beberg tried to have the dog flown home to the United States on October 1, but the military, which prohibits soldiers from adopting pets abroad and bringing them home, confiscated the dog on the way to the airport.

Operation Baghdad Pups returned to pick up Ratchet this weekend, after the military reconsidered and cleared Ratchet’s trip. More than 65,000 people signed two online petitions urging the military to let Ratchet go to the United States.

On Sunday, private security contractors took Ratchet from a base to the airport, where he was put on a charter flight to Kuwait. Northwest Airlines is donating the flights from Kuwait to Minnesota, SPCA  officials said.

Beberg’s deployment started in September 2007 and is scheduled to end in November.

“She was absolutely miserable in the war and was really struggling to keep going every day. Ratchet turned it around for her,” SPCA spokeswoman Stephanie Scroggs said last week.

Beberg’s mother, Patricia Beberg, in a statement released by the SPCA, said Ratchet “was the savior of her [daughter's] sanity” in Iraq.

     Rescue groups, dogs in costume and the Orioles mascot were just a few of the sights to be seen at yesterday’s BARCStoberfest at Patterson Park.
     The annual fundraising event is held by Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS).

Ace’s Kissing Booth (and Dog Breath Emporium) drew more than a few takers at yesterday’s BARCSstoberfest at Patterson Park and, at $1 a smooch, helped the ohmidog! booth raise $75 for BARCS “Franky Fund.”

The Franky Fund helps sick and injured animals at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) get the emergency medical care they need so they can be put up for adoption.

Nearly a dozen adventurous humans bellied up to the booth for a kiss from Ace, an act we ensured would take place by smearing a little peanut butter on their noses. (Ace was adopted from BARCS three years ago.)

We’ll have more photos from BARCStoberfest tomorrow — and if your dog is the one pictured in the ohmidog! “O,” you can leave a comment and win an ohmidog! sweatshirt.