An American soldier who had to leave her beloved kittens behind upon coming home from her deployment is hoping to be reunited with them.
Two kittens with whom Sergeant Etter developed an unique attachment while serving in the Middle East will soon have to say goodbye. She may now be able to bring her four-legged companions back to America with her thanks to Paws of War, a nonprofit that aids service members and their pets.
In order to reduce the rodent population at the post where Sergeant Etter is stationed, cats are reportedly encouraged to wander free.
When one of the cats had kittens, Sergeant Etter found two of the tiny animals when they were around eight weeks old, both hungry and neglected.
She decided to take care of them and quickly formed a close relationship with the kittens — who she named Phantom and Mau — and they quickly became a part of her daily routine.
“Since we are far from home and have been there for each other constantly over the last several months, Phantom and Mau have really touched our hearts,” Sergeant Etter said. “They made us feel more like our best versions of ourselves whenever we would see them at the end of the day.”
As Sergeant Etter’s post is shutting, she plans to return to the United States and is relying on Paws of War to help gather the funds necessary to bring the kittens with her.
She exclaimed, “I’m overjoyed that Paws of War is willing to assist us in saving these two priceless animals.
According to the organization, transporting the cats home to America is a costly feat.
Finding people on the ground to assist with the animals’ transportation, making sure the pets have the necessary papers and medical documents, and covering the high cost of sending two pets on an international flight are all part of the process.
Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, said: “Anyone who has traveled to this region of the globe knows of the hard and horrible conditions that these cats might experience if they are left behind.”
We’ll do all in our power to get the cats back to Sergeant Etter’s house, he continued. “We are aware of the necessary logistics, but we require assistance from the public to cover the associated costs.”
Paws of War is committed to rescuing and training dogs, matching them with veterans who require therapy dogs, and assisting troops in bringing animals back to the United States.
Similar assistance was provided by the charity to American soldier Timothy Boyd last year when he returned from Afghanistan with his rescued dog, Misha.
