Nesconset Nonprofit Wants To Aid Sergeant Bring Rescued Cats Home

NESCONSET, NY - Paws of War, a Nesconset-based nonprofit, is calling on patriots to help it bring a soldier’s cats home from the Middle East. Sergeant Etter, while deployed, rescued two cats who have become family to her, according to the organization.

Their future in an area that has been known to be harsh to animals leaves Etter worried about what could happen to them if she can't bring them home. Paws of War has helped many soldiers bring dogs and cats rescued overseas home to America after their deployment, and now the nonprofit is on a mission to help bring Phantom and Mau back home to safely live out their lives with Etter.

"Anyone who has been to this area of the world knows of the harsh and cruel conditions that these cats could endure if they are left behind," Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, said via news release. "We will do everything we can to bring the cats home for Sergeant Etter. We know we have the logistics to do it, but we need the public to help with the expense of making it happen."

Transporting the cats from the Middle East to America is costly, says the nonprofit. It involves working with individuals on the ground and ensuring they have all their medical records and paperwork in order. Also, live animal cargo airfare is a big expense.

If you'd like to donate to Paws of War on Etter's behalf, you can do so here.

The base where Etter is stationed is closing. Cats were encouraged to roam the base in order to help keep the rodent population down. Doing this helps to ensure that the base doesn’t become a haven for venomous snakes that are after the rodents. One of the cats had kittens, which is where Etter’s story with them begins. She found the two kittens, who she named Phantom and Mau, when they were around 8 weeks old. They were hungry and neglected, and she was an animal lover so much, that she had become a veterinary technician before being deployed.

Over time, she fell in love with the kittens. As they grew, the three of them formed a lasting bond. They were a part of her daily life: keeping her company and providing her with comfort and companionship. The base where she is at is closing, and she is devastated at the thought of leaving them behind. She is putting her trust in Paws of War, and the public, to help bring the cats back to America to be with her.

"Since we are far from home and have been there for each other constantly over the last several months, Phantom and Mau have really touched our hearts," Etter said according to the release. "They made us feel more like our best versions of ourselves whenever we would see them at the end of the day. I’m beyond happy that Paws of War is willing to help us save these two precious animals."

Paws of War provides a wide range of services to U.S. military veterans, first responders and their pets.