 Happy Pet is San Francisco's first all-holistic pet supply store. The store offers chemical-free, all-natural foods and treats.
Sandra and Cesar Estrada founded the store in October 1997, and since then have been offering safe alternatives for treating common pet ailments, and a wide range of books for learning more about holistic possibilities.
For more information about Happy Pet organic treats and the "K9 Heroes" commemorative series, please contact:
Happy Pet
709 Taraval St.
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-566-2952 Ph
415-566-8134 Fax
sandraestrada@military.com
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Local pet shop owner raises public awareness about Military War Dogs by serving up healthy, organic treats
By Christine Vilar
Military.com Staff Writer
Sandra displays a photo of a Military Working Dog and his handlers alongside her organic commemorative dog treats.
Canines have a long history of saving lives -- dragging their owners to safety, fighting off bears, even guarding their masters during epileptic seizures -- and they continue to do so, saving soldiers while deployed in Iraq and elsewhere. It's a little-known fact that dogs have been protecting U.S. troops since World War I, and today, a large number of K-9s work in the military, performing scout and tracking operations or acting as sentries.
Most people are unaware of the important role that K-9 units play in the U.S. military, but there are a few organizations and individuals who are working to change that. Sandra Estrada, owner of a humble San Francisco shop called Happy Pet, started making organic treats for military dogs in December 2004. Since then, her initial act of goodwill has snowballed and turned into a full-scale operation, keeping her and her husband Cesar busy creating commemorative dog treats.
Out of her interest in the heroic acts of canines in history and her love of dogs, Sandra created “K9 Heroes,” a series of six dog treats commemorating different canine heroes in history, ranging all the way back to the Civil War. They are sold along with other packages of organic treats that Happy Pet produces. Sandra has sent them to various organizations that also work to support war dogs, and are becoming very popular, very fast.
"I sent a set over to the Space Coast War Dog Association -- the treats looked so nice they didn't even give them to the dogs!" says Sandra.
Each biscuit is cut by hand, and includes a card that tells the true story of a particular Military K-9 hero. Half of the proceeds from each sale goes to help Military Working Dogs and provide them with
boots, goggles, and flak jackets.
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Sandra and Cesar Estrada with a certificate from the 44th Expeditionary Security Force in Iraq, honoring the Estradas for their contributions. |
The series also includes a more recent War Dog hero, Fluffy. Fluffy was purchased by U.S. Special Forces from the Kurds in Iraq. His handler, SFC Russell Joyce, wanted to bring him home to the US after his tour was over. Unfortunately, his request caused some controversy and it took a number of impassioned letters and emails to bring Fluffy home. Other stories of war dogs and their handlers did not have such happy endings. In the Vietnam War, approximately 4,000 dogs were deployed, most of which were not allowed to return with their handlers, and were instead left in Vietnam to fend for themselves.
For Sandra, the most important part of the production is educating people about war dogs, and making sure the canines get the care they deserve.
“We cohabitate this planet with a variety of animals -- but of all of them, none are closer to humans than dogs,” says Sandra.
Sandra is not only an expert on canine history, she's also one of the few people in the US who are actually certified to produce treats for Military Working Dogs, because of their strict diet. The Estradas have sent a number of their healthy and organic treats overseas in care packages, and have been recognized for their generosity by the 44th Expeditionary Security Force in Iraq and even President Bush.
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A thank you note to the Estradas, sent from the White House and signed by President Bush. |
“Our current goal is to raise awareness, and work toward a provision that all military dogs be brought back to the US -- and tendered the care they deserve,” says Sandra.
She hopes that by raising awareness, War Dogs will get other honors they deserve, such as a Military Working Dog memorial or a war dog stamp.
Sandra has gone even further and contacted local veterinarians for donations of vet wrap (protective wrap for dogs) and canine boot makers for boot donations. The Estradas have also worked closely with the Space Coast War Dog Association to spread the word about war dog heroes. SCWDA, located at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, is another organization working to make sure that the memory of past, present, and future Military Working Dogs is not forgotten. Through public education and community relations, SCWDA, like Sandra, is working to make sure K-9 heroes are honored for their service.
“Just as it's important not to forget the sacrifices that our soldiers make every day, dogs that are also saving lives should be recognized,” says Sandra. “They should be honored for the contribution they give to their two-legged companions.”
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