Group’s care packages are for the dogs - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Group’s care packages are for the dogs

A group of Colorado veterinarians are raising thousands of dollars to ship K-9 care packages to Afghanistan.

In an effort to make life downrange a little more tolerable for bomb-detecting dogs who struggle with the same harsh summer conditions as their Marine handlers, the group is sending IV fluids, booties, foot balms, and antiseptic sprays.

The initiative began after a 14-acre fire in May destroyed a large storage depot aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Among thousands of other goods stored there were dog supplies, including a medicated liquid given to dogs by injection to keep them hydrated.

The regular injections have proven critical in Marjah, where summer temperatures routinely spike over 100 degrees, said Staff Sgt. Matthew Hill, kennel master with 1st Battalion, 11th Marines.

While waiting for more of the solution to work its way through the Corps’ supply chain, Hill sought a temporary fix. He reached out to family and friends back in Colorado, many of whom, he said, are in the veterinary profession or work with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

“It is just dirty out here, so the same issues we face as Marines, as far as our hygiene goes, is what we face with the dogs,” Hill said via e-mail. “… Packages with ear and eye wash, conditioner for the pads of their feet and similar items help us out with keeping the dogs healthy.”

Jenelle Vail, a veterinarian at the Humane Society and a friend of Hill’s, didn’t hesitate. She called other animal clinics in Colorado.

Other veterinarians quickly jumped on board. Among them was veterinarian Matthew Rooney. Rooney, the owner of Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists, said his business already has put $1,000 in the pot. With donations also coming from other clinics and the public, the grand total has now reached about $5,000.

The first supply shipment went out in late July and primarily consisted of the hydrating injections. But Rooney said Hill’s unit is once again getting the solution from the Marine Corps, so he and other veterinarians are branching out to send other items down range that will help care for the dogs’ feet and minor lacerations.