LAS VEGAS -- Just before the New Year, Army Reserve Capt. Gabriella Cook sent an urgent e-mail from Iraq requesting food shipments. Not for her or her unit - for Iraqi police dogs.

"The dogs are starving and urgently need dry dog food," Cook wrote in a Dec. 28 e-mail that said the Iraqi Interior Ministry's only bomb-sniffing police dogs were eating table scraps and garbage.

The response to the canine crisis has been overwhelming: Offers of help poured in from New Hampshire, Florida, Texas, Ohio and New York. One sports gambling handicapper alone ponied up $5,000.

Now, about 30,000 pounds of dog food is on its way to the Middle East to feed a unit of starving Iraqi canines.

Hill's Pet Nutrition has arranged for a continuous, complimentary supply of its Science Diet dog food to be made available at an Army and Air Force Exchange Service site near Baghdad, company official Joyce Waida said Friday.

The food will be used to feed 13 Iraqi Police Academy dogs, along with U.S. military canines in the area.

Offers of help came pouring in after an e-mail sent by Capt. Gabriella Cook, commander of the Army Reserve's 313th Military Police Detachment, was made public. In the e-mail to her friends in Las Vegas, Cook said the unit of explosive-sniffing and attack dogs was starving and forced to eat table scraps and garbage for survival.

"The makers of Science Diet deserve a huge thank you. The better the care and feeding the security dogs of Iraq receive, the better they can do their lifesaving jobs amid the dangers," said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who along with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., had been looking into the situation.

In Las Vegas, the president of a nonprofit group that been collecting donations to provide the Iraqi police dogs with food said she will return all the money she has received.

Judith Ruiz, president of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society, said she received calls and e-mails from across the nation as word spread about the hungry Iraqi dogs. An air freight provider had offered to fly donated dog food to Baghdad.

"All across the country the love and compassion for these animals is absolutely extraordinary," Ruiz said. "It's very heartwarming, the emotions and the commitment."

Cook, a Las Vegas police officer, is commander of the Las Vegas-based 313th Military Police Detachment. The unit arrived in Baghdad in mid-December to train Iraqi police, including officers with bomb-sniffing dogs.

Cook's friend Diana Paivanas said Thursday that she has heard twice by e-mail from Cook, who was excited by the stateside response.

"That is so wonderful," Cook wrote in an e-mail thanking Paivanas. "P.S. the Iraqi bomb dogs helped us Americans to sniff out a building."

Message About Iraqi Guard Dogs

The following message is on the Web site of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society:

The Las Vegas Valley Humane Society has been involved for several days in helping arrange food supplies for the Iraqi guard dogs reported as needing help in several media releases. We are pleased to report that the problem has been solved. We have worked with Mr. Ron Aiello, president of The War Dogs Association and a long time supporter of war dogs on a worldwide basis, and Senator John Ensign of Nevada, a veterinarian and sponsor of much animal related legislation. Both have been instrumental in solving this problem. DHL the company that flies material for the US forces in Iraq had also offered to transport food and veterinary supplies for the Iraq police dogs. The following e mail is being sent to those who have contacted the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society expressing their concern over the Iraqi guard dogs or offering assistance in arranging food for them.

Dear Friends of Animals:
The nationwide response from compassionate people resulting from news stories about the Iraqi security dogs has been overwhelming. The issue of feeding these dogs has now been resolved and we have been assured that Hills Pet Food company will donate food for the Iraqi dogs and have it delivered on a continuing basis.
We therefore will not have need for contributions of funds for food for the Iraqi security dogs. We understand veterinary medical supplies will be needed and we hope they will be donated.
We believe in a “Donor Bill of Rights” that requires all contributions for a specific cause be used only for that cause. Therefore, all funds donated to the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society designated for the Iraqi dogs will be returned.
Some people offering support interpreted the media stories as reporting problems with the US war dogs deployed in Iraq. We want to emphasize that the dogs involved belong to the Iraq police force. The US dogs are reported to be in excellent condition and receive great care from their handlers.
The outpouring of compassion throughout our country has been overwhelming. I would urge every one to support their local rescue and spay / neuter programs.
For more information on the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society programs click on our website at www.lvvhumane.org.
Judith Ruiz
President Las Vegas Valley Humane Society