SPCA Bringing Dog From Iraq in Honor of Fallen Soldier

SPCA International, in honor of U.S. Iraq and Vietnam war veteran Major Steven Hutchison, is bringing his team’s dog, Laia, from Iraq to the U.S.

Major Hutchison died earlier this month in Basra, Iraq of wounds from a roadside bomb. He is the oldest U.S. service member to die in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Major was 60.

Sgt. Andrew Hunt, a fellow team member of Maj. Hutchison’s, will adopt Laia. In an email to  SPCA International, Sgt. Hunt wrote, “Laia was Major Hutchison’s dog. Laia has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives, and we cannot express how much she has touched us all..As a final act for our brother, we want to send his dog home.”

A SPCA International program created to provide veterinary care, clearance and transport for animals U.S. service members have come to love during deployment in the Middle East, Operation Baghdad Pups, will handle the rescue. Operation Baghdad Pups’ manager, Terri Crisp, will escort Laia and four other U.S. soldiers’ dogs from Iraq to Virginia.

Once Laia is in the U.S., she will be cared for by Sgt. Hunt’s uncle until Hunt returns from Iraq. Laia is expected to arrive at Dulles International Airport on June 1st.

Veteran Tests Positive for HIV After Colonoscopy with Unsterilized Equipment

The Department of Veterans Affairs revealed one veteran tests positive for the HIV virus after receiving a colonoscopy with unsterilized equipment at a VA medical facility.

The location of the medical facility where the veteran had the colonoscopy has not been released.

There are 3 VA facilities involved in the US Department of Veteran Affairs investigation into the unsterilized  colonoscopy equipment; the VA hospital in Murfreesboro, Tn, an ear,nose and throat clinic in Augusta, Ga, and the Miami’s VA Medical Center.

3,174 veterans have been tested so far. At least 16 of those veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The Va said, “These results do not indicate that there is any relationship between these patients’ conditions and the endoscopy procedures they underwent. However, VA is conducting an epidemiologic investigation to look into the possibility of such a relationship.” 

Just the fact that our Veterans have to be put through this ordeal is an outrage. We owe them so much more.