PRESS RELEASE

RELEASE DATE: Immediately (May 31, 2005)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt 
                                          (801) 261-2919 ex. 202 - office

HUMANE SOCIETY TO HOST OPEN HOUSE
FOR RESCUED AFGHANI MASCOT DOGS, "CHOPPER" AND "APACHE"

   On Saturday, June 4, the Humane Society of Utah will hold a reception from noon to 2 PM to officially welcome to America two yellow Labrador dogs who were saved by a Utah soldier stationed in Afghanistan, and whose rescue was funded by donations from generous Humane Society members. The public is invited to the open house to meet Chopper and Apache in "paw-son" and hear all the details of their dramatic story.

   Last January the Society received a letter from SPC Dezerae Sharpe from her base in Bagram which told of her having found two puppies abandoned behind a shed there. Her unit adopted the pups as mascots, and they were even given papers from the Combat Stress Section certifying what good therapy and morale boosters the dogs had been for the soldiers. As the unit's tour of duty was scheduled to end in March, SPC Sharpe realized that if she couldn't get the dogs out of Afghanistan by then, they would be killed. She appealed to the Humane Society of Utah, saying, "I've fought long and hard to keep Chopper and Apache out of harm's way, and now I'm fighting to get them safely to the States to the loving home I have waiting for them. Please, I can't do this on my own. All I need is a LITTLE help from a LOT of people who care about animals. Can the Humane Society do anything?"

   The Society ran the story of the two dogs on the front page of its own newsletter, and invited members to become a part of Operation Mascot Rescue. Almost immediately donations started pouring in, and by the end of February the entire $6,000 necessary to bring the dogs over had been raised. Dezerae Sharpe's woodshop built the transportation kennels, and the dogs had to take two different flights and board planes in two different countries. But on March 21st Chopper and Apache were met at Salt Lake International Airport by Dezerae's family, and were given plenty of time to get used to their new life in America before plans were made to introduce them to the community whose generous donations had saved them.

   Now the Humane Society and Dezerae want to thank everyone who played a part in the rescue, as well as give the public in general a chance to meet these canine heroes. The HSU facility is located at 4242 South 300 West, and refreshments will be served. For more information, please call 261-2919.