By Amy Nicole
A pregnant and homeless young pup, now named Cardi, was found in 2022 by U.S. Marines deployed in the Philippines. She was found trapped in a box starved before they broke her free and brought her back to their camp, but that was just the beginning of her rescue story.
The Marines who rescued Cardi knew they couldn’t leave her and the pups behind, so they reached out to the non-profit organization, Paws of War, who stepped in to bring Cardi home to the U.S. The organization also helped aid deployed military members adopt their forever friends through the “War Torn Pups and Cats” program.
“We are a small team, and we are a grassroots organization, but we are a mighty team for what we are doing,” said director of Veteran Affairs and Development Ryan Haugstatter.
Cardi’s story is just one of the countless miracle missions successfully brought full circle over months and years thanks to the life-saving work of Paws of War. However, rescuing animals in need is just one aspect of what makes up the entity.
In addition to rescue, Paws of War specializes in training dogs for obedience, therapy, and service; providing life-changing companionship and assistance for veterans and retired first responders.
Paws of War was co-founded in 2014 by current organization President Robert Misseri and Dori Scofield. The mission began with the War Torn Pups and Cats program, which has evolved into a national organization working internationally to not only help save animals but work tirelessly on the home front to help heal veterans, first responders, gold star family members, and active military.
According to the most recent data collected by the organization, Paws of War has rescued to date over 5,000 animals, adopted over 800, and served over 950 veterans.
On the heels of its 10-year-anniversary, the organization’s headquarters located on Long Island in Nesconset, N.Y., has grown to include a main kennel, new offices, and a training facility. The facility is currently able to hold anywhere from 7 to 10 different teams for veterans and first responders to participate in the training programs.
“There is never a cost to our Veterans or First Responders for adopting from our program or to be a part of our training program, said Ryan.”
Through the War Torn Pups and Cats program, Ryan said it simply started with active military men and women deployed overseas who would find and fall in love with these stray dogs and cats as a way to help them get through their time deployed. In turn, they started contacting the program to ask for help to rescue and bring them home.
Many of the locations overseas where Paws of Wars have had to navigate to coordinate rescues are very remote. This, Ryan explained, leaves a daunting task of not only rescuing the animal but also getting it to the closest veterinarian before the animal is transported to the U.S. and foster arrangements can be made for the animals until their owners come home.
“One of our rescues we did we were in such a remote location we actually had to transport the animal with a mule and a wagon,” he said.
With such missions overseas including a Ukraine rescue program at the height, and right at home, Paws of War depends on the volunteers and donors who make things happen collectively for veterinary care, transporters, foster, kennel help, puppy socialization, office help and so much more.
Importance for Veterans
While some of the veterans and first responders who are members don’t want or need service dogs, Paws of War is there to train their dogs for therapy so they can in turn bring their dogs to places such as VA and nursing homes.
However, some people are suffering so badly they can’t even come out of their cars at first to meet and greet with the animal. For Ryan, he said, when you see them come from that moment to the training program with their dogs, it is truly when you see how Paws of War is helping both ends of the leash.
“You just see these people transform as well as the animal too,” he said of overseeing the rehabilitation of the dog as well as the veteran or first responder.
In turn, Ryan said, veterans and first responders have found a place to call home where they can keep coming back and talk with others who they can relate to.
Local Long Island hero Robert Weisberg, a Commack volunteer firefighter and Nesconset resident who served heroically on September 11, 2001, has been an active member of Paws of War alongside his service dog, Chip.
In 2023, Robert set out on an expedition to hike the Appalachian Trail to raise funds for Paws of War and help bring awareness to veterans and first responders living with mental health challenges post-service.
Locally, Ryan said Robert has been an inspiration and an active member in supporting Paws of War speaking about his experience and what the organization has done for him.
“We are really happy to have him [Robert] on board as a volunteer and a member as well,” said Ryan.
Currently, Paws of War has over sixty rescues they are working on overseas and throughout the entire process from rescue to reunion the moment that is the long-awaited goal for each animal and their rescuers is the reunion.
Paws of War not only transports to various states, wherever the military men or women reside, but most of the time they are doing the reuniting right in their front yard.
For Ryan the most memorable reunion he has been able to witness during his time as director came in 2023 with the reunion of Cardi, her pups, and the Marines who helped rescue them when they returned home to North Carolina.
“When seeing the active service men and women reunited with their dogs that they rescued from overseas was such a special moment, one that I won’t ever forget”, he said.
In a continued effort to raise awareness and support for Paws of War in 2024, the organization is set to locally host their 2nd annual Paws of War Carshow on Sunday, June 2, in the parking lot of their headquarters at 127 Smithtown Blvd in Nesconset from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The day’s festivities will include vintage and classic cars and the dog and family-friendly event will offer those in attendance music, raffles, 50-50, and food trucks.
All proceeds of the event will go to helping a veteran receive a service dog.
There is not one favorite part about Paws of War for Ryan, but the whole process itself he said is a reward in seeing the animals being placed with good families and seeing the people who are in desperate need of a therapy dog to heal and thrive.
“I just love everything about Paws of War. What it stands for and what we do here,” he said.
Paws of War welcomes donations such as closed bags of food, beds, toys and leashes to be dropped off at their facility and have wish lists on Amazon and Chewy. You can also make a monetary donation right on their website at pawsofwar.org.
For more information about Paws of War and how you can become involved, visit www.pawsofwar.org.
Photos courtesy of Paws of War