Soldiers’ Animal Companions Fund and Nowzad ran a quickly funded appeal last week that raised the necessary funds to send a cat from Afghanistan to the Us to be reunited with the soldier who could not bear to leave her behind when his tour of duty was done. Mousetrap will soon be on her way home.
Both organizations ran the photo immediately below at their Facebook pages on October 4 with a brief appeal, and Mousetrap’s travel expenses had been fully funded within a day.
Mousetrap’s story, told in her soldier’s words:
I was stationed at FOB Sharana for almost six months.
Shortly after my arrival I saw a cat in the shadows around my living area. It was very elusive for the longest time. I’d put food out for it and the food would disappear by morning. Several months went by without actually seeing the cat, until one day she walked in my room while my door was open! Friendly as could be, we bonded instantly.
She seemed to be able to sense danger and would sometimes disappear. She had a keen sense of smell and started showing up down near our work area, where our Indian friends would always be cooking food. Despite all the chaos in our everyday lives while at Sharana, she’d always seem to come around and put smiles on our faces, making us feel a little bit closer to home. I really dreaded the when I’d have to depart and leave here to fend for herself.
Well, the day the day came when we started packing up and tearing down most of the wooden structures around our compound. She had several safe havens where she’d hide and they were both gone. I hadn’t seen her in a few days and figured she’d taken refuge somewhere else. On one of the final days of cleaning up, to my surprise, she appeared out of nowhere!
I looked over and saw her sitting on a jersey barrier. The funny thing is that she was sitting on my small backpack as if she were trying to tell me something! At this point I knew that I couldn’t leave her behind. With only several days left before flying out, I needed a plan and quick. My only option was to leave here with some friends in another unit who’d be around for another couple of months. They had a problem with mice and gladly looked after her for me until I could figure something out.
I had to leave, but I left some contact info with everyone and told them that I was serious about trying to take Mousetrap home. I found Nowzad and before I knew it a plan came together and after a 100mile taxi ride she was safe and sound at the shelter. 🙂
This is my first tour in Afghanistan, but I spent 4 tours in Iraq and cared for cats as for some reason they’d always seek me out. It was the same story: not wanting to leave them behind to live a horrible life.
This little Kitty stole my heart and I’m going to do everything I can to get her back to my home in Indiana where she’ll be a house cat without a worry in the world. She’ll have three cat brothers to greet her (Rufus, Snapper and Nike). Thanks for all the help and support! 🙂
Soldier’s Companion Animals Fund at Facebook
Donations are always needed and appreciated by the Nowzad clinic, and to fund the care and travel expenses for those companion animals adopted by servicemen in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Please keep me posted and let me know when Mousetrap gets home safe and sound to Indiana!!!!! What a great story!
I am so glad there are organizations to help our soldiers rescue the animals they find and fall in love with while on their tours. To save these babies from the chaos and danger they are in is just a sign of how love can happen anywhere. I hope Mousetrap has a safe trip to Indiana where a loving home awaits. I too would like to know when she arrives and how she does with her human in a safe, loving home. Many thanks to all who made this possible. You are all heroes.