Army Capt.: Iraqi Police Dogs Need Food

LAS VEGAS – The commander of an Army Reserve detachment in Iraq is begging friends back home to send food for Iraqi police dogs.

Captain Gabriella Cook says in e-mails that the 13 dogs at the Iraqi Police Academy (search) in Baghdad are living on table scraps and garbage. She says some of the dogs are sick — and there's no way to get real dog food.

Cook's unit — the 313th Military Police Detachment (search), based in Las Vegas — arrived in the Iraqi capital last month.

A Nevada veterinarian estimates that each of the police dogs needs 40 pounds or more of dry food per month.

Nevada Senator John Ensign has an aide looking into the matter.