Peter Neesley's family comforted by dogs he adopted in Iraq

Journey of 2 dogs helps family of fallen soldier
2/7/2008, 8:11 p.m. EST
By KEN THOMAS
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Growing up, Peter Neesley was an animal lover who always took in strays around his Michigan home. So when his family heard that the Army sergeant was taking care of two dogs outside his Baghdad military base, no one was surprised.

In e-mails and phone calls from Iraq, Neesley talked about how he came across Mama, a black Labrador mix, and Boris, her white-and-brown spotted puppy, while on patrol in a Baghdad neighborhood.

One of Mama's puppies was later killed by a car, so Neesley and his friends built a doghouse to shelter the animals. Photographs show Neesley feeding the dogs, kneeling next to the red-and-white doghouse and Boris walking along the cracked sidewalks of Baghdad.


"He was determined. He had already been sending us e-mails about how when he came home in July, he was going to find a way to bring them with him," said his sister, Carey Neesley.

Neesley's family was devastated when they learned Christmas morning that the 28-year-old had died suddenly in his sleep. The Army said his death is still under investigation pending an autopsy.

Still grieving, the family decided that they would honor Neesley's wishes and try to bring the dogs home to Michigan.

"To have something that they can hold and touch and care for that Peter cared about, that's the whole thing," said Julie Dean, his aunt.

Mama and Boris were scheduled to arrive Friday at the Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., home of Neesley's mother, capping a four-week transfer facilitated by family members, animal rights groups, media outlets and elected leaders.

The dogs were picked up in Baghdad this week by Rick Crook, a rapid response manager for the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, which helped arrange the animals' transport after learning about it from media reports. Gryphon Holdings LLC, an American-owned airline with service to Iraq, agreed to fly the dogs from Baghdad to Kuwait City.
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