ST. LOUIS (AP) – A central Missouri family has been flooded with offers of assistance in its effort to bring a pet dog a soldier son adopted in Iraq to the United States.

Pfc. Jeremiah Smith adopted a stray he’s calling Niki while on duty in Iraq. His parents, Don and Phyllis Smith, are working to get the dog shipped to their home west of Fulton. They already have five beagles, two cockatiels and a duck at the home, near Millersburg.

Don Smith, 46, said he’s gotten pledges from strangers to cover the $1,000 or more it will cost to get Niki to America after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported on the effort. He said he’ll donate surplus funds to two organizations that help animals overseas and has asked callers to do the same.

The U.S. military does not transport animals that service personnel adopt on duty assignments, such as Iraq.

Don Smith said he is working on arrangements to transport Niki as soon as possible. His son, a military policeman, is expected to remain in Iraq until summer.

Don Smith said the stray dogs have been good company to the soldiers serving in Iraq.

“The animals have been giving those guys a lot of comfort and companionship,” he said. “The guys are over there, uprooted from their families. It’s good for them to have those pets.”

Don Smith has been in contact with the World Society for the Protection of Animals in Framingham, Mass., and with Military Mascot in Merrimac, Mass. The World Society has sent about $250,000 to Iraq, mainly to provide veterinary care to the work animals of Iraqi families, but it also has helped the adopted pets of service personnel, a spokeswoman said.

—

On the Net:

World Society for the Protection of Animals: www.wspa-usa.org

Military Mascots: www.adoptpaws.org/mascots.

AP-ES-02-10-04 0445EST