Nonfiction Monday: Baghdad Pups by Meish Goldish

This is a new addition to Bearport's popular Dog Heroes series. In this title, the reader hears the stories of the dogs befriended by soldiers in Iraq and the struggle to give them good homes. The story begins with a Sgt. Watson and the puppy he and his friends secretly befriended and raised, a black and white dog named Charlie. When Sgt. Watson's group was scheduled to leave Iraq, he contacted SPCAI (the international SPCA) to help him get Charlie back to the US, despite regulations against bringing anything, including animals, back from a war zone.

The story continues as the SPCAI worked to bring back dogs that had comforted and helped soldiers in Iraq. The program had setbacks when some of the animals were found to have diseases, including rabies, and the soldiers and SPCAI workers had to work against the military, since Operation Baghdad Pups is against the rules. There are more individual stories of dogs and soldiers and a view of the issue from both sides, including a discussion of the expenses involved and the problems both the soldiers and volunteers face.

The final pages include more facts about Operation Baghdad Pups, some information about the mixed breeds common to the area, a glossary, bibliography, further reading, internet links, and index.

Verdict: True animal stories are always popular and this title will be an excellent addition to any collection. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781617721502; Published January 2011 by Bearport; Review copy provided by publisher