Soldier hopes to send furry friend home from Iraq [View All]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1219&u_sid=2376561

Published Wednesday | May 2, 2007
Soldier hopes to send furry friend home from Iraq
BY ABE WINTER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Bellevue's Ronne Smith, who is serving in Iraq, wants to help a friend get to the States.

The Nebraska Humane Society wants to help in Smith's endeavor to have the friend - Taji, an orange tabby cat - waiting in Bellevue for Smith after her deployment. But it won't be easy, said Pam Wiese of the Humane Society.

Smith, a private first class in the Army, has cared for Taji at her military camp for about two months. Smith, fearing the cat would be euthanized because of fears of disease, last month e-mailed a request for help to the Humane Society in Omaha.

Wiese said the society will pay whatever costs are involved to ship the cat here before Smith's scheduled return. The group is seeking U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson's help.

"She started feeding it, and she'd like to get it back to the U.S.," Wiese said. "It would be a nice thing to have Taji here waiting for her when she gets home as a tiny 'thank you' for all she's done for our country."

Smith's superiors, Wiese said, would prefer not to have cats on the base. Smith isn't expected to be returning home for several months.

FULL story at link.